WORKS minister, John Nasasira, last week defended the decision to lease BMW cars for the 2007 Commonwealth summit. While appearing before the CHOGM probe committee, the minister also denied direct involvement in the CHOGM car deal.

He argued that the procurement of the vehicles was done by a team headed by the ministry’s permanent secretary (PS) Charles Muganzi. In all his appearances before the committee, the PS has answered questions of accountability in a melodramatic way, blaming the politicians for the mess in the CHOGM contracts. First it was the Vice-President, then other line ministers and lately junior officers.

PAC members should familiarise themselves with the duties of the permanent secretaries. PAC should note that as the accounting officer and chairperson of the sub-committee for transport, the PS cannot distance himself from the decisions, activities and works implemented by the committees.

First, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) law requires that before procurement proceeds, the accounting officer confirms in writing that the works or services are required, the statement of requirements is accurate and funds are available for them. This is done on a prescribed form for all contracts which PAC should demand for.

Second, contracts are approved by the contracts committee on behalf of the ministry. Let PAC demand for all the approvals made by the Works contracts committee on CHOGM procurements?
Third, it is the accounting officer who submits procurement applications to PPDA for approval Why was the PS submitting them if he was not involved in decision making?

Fourth, it is the accounting officer who mobilises payments to providers from Bank of Uganda. Why did he authorise payments if he felt that the services or works were not relevant?

One would imagine that important decisions on CHOGM contracts were made during meetings and with the knowledge of the PS. As custodians of public funds Permanent secretaries should be held for errors committed by their ministries.