Finance minister quizzed over NSSF saga
Sep 09, 2009
MPS yesterday grilled finance state minister Fred Omach for failure to take action against the National Social Security Fund managing director, David Jamwa and his deputy, Mondo Kagonyera.
By Mary Karugaba
and Cyprian Musoke
MPS yesterday grilled finance state minister Fred Omach for failure to take action against the National Social Security Fund managing director, David Jamwa and his deputy, Mondo Kagonyera.
The MPs were angry that despite ‘glaring’ evidence of misuse of funds and office, the finance ministry failed to arrest the officers and kept silent about the matter. MPs Betty Amongi (Independent) and Johnson Malinga (FDC) wondered whether the Ministry of Finance was in control of the institution.
“When the first NSSF saga arose, an arrest warrant was issued to the then officials, including former gender minister Bakoko Bakoru. Can the minister explain why the law is being applied differently? Today, neither Kagonyera nor Jamwa has been arrested let alone questioned by the Police,†Amongi said.
She called for the disbanding of the NSSF structures to pave way for reforms, arguing that workers should be given an opportunity to save their money with an institution of their choice. Malinga wondered whether the Government was deliberately avoiding the matter.
Although Omach did not respond to the issue in the House, he told journalists that the ministry could not take any action since the Auditor General had not completed investigations into the financial activities of the fund.
He said the ministry would take action after investigations have been completed. He explained that the Cabinet was still studying documents on the fund’s reform, which would soon table them to Parliament.
Shadow finance minister Okello Oduman (FDC) said it was wrong for the NSSF to stay under the finance ministry yet its ministerial statement does not say anything about the fund. Elijah Okupa (FDC) proposed that Parliament bans the approval of all loans until the ministry sorts out the NSSF problems.
He was also angry that finance minister Syda Bbumba has been constantly absent in the House to explain some of the issues raised. Okupa blasted the finance committee for failing to come out with a recommendation on NSSF despite the ongoing saga.
During the debate, MPs also demanded for an explanation on the Government’s shareholding in Victoria International Airways.
According to Okupa, the Government in 2006 invested $250,000 in the airlines, which was scheduled to start in November 2006. Okupa displayed documents in relation to the investment.
According to the documents, the company shareholders were Intercorp Holding of Switzerland, Government of Uganda, City Square Trading 678 of South Africa, Ruflex Global Limited and Declan Peppard.
Okupa said in 2006, the Government granted the company a five-year air service licence to operate passenger and cargo services to Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar-es salaam, Lusaka, Juba and Johannesburg. Omach declined to comment, but promised to table a detailed explanation on the matter.
and Cyprian Musoke
MPS yesterday grilled finance state minister Fred Omach for failure to take action against the National Social Security Fund managing director, David Jamwa and his deputy, Mondo Kagonyera.
The MPs were angry that despite ‘glaring’ evidence of misuse of funds and office, the finance ministry failed to arrest the officers and kept silent about the matter. MPs Betty Amongi (Independent) and Johnson Malinga (FDC) wondered whether the Ministry of Finance was in control of the institution.
“When the first NSSF saga arose, an arrest warrant was issued to the then officials, including former gender minister Bakoko Bakoru. Can the minister explain why the law is being applied differently? Today, neither Kagonyera nor Jamwa has been arrested let alone questioned by the Police,†Amongi said.
She called for the disbanding of the NSSF structures to pave way for reforms, arguing that workers should be given an opportunity to save their money with an institution of their choice. Malinga wondered whether the Government was deliberately avoiding the matter.
Although Omach did not respond to the issue in the House, he told journalists that the ministry could not take any action since the Auditor General had not completed investigations into the financial activities of the fund.
He said the ministry would take action after investigations have been completed. He explained that the Cabinet was still studying documents on the fund’s reform, which would soon table them to Parliament.
Shadow finance minister Okello Oduman (FDC) said it was wrong for the NSSF to stay under the finance ministry yet its ministerial statement does not say anything about the fund. Elijah Okupa (FDC) proposed that Parliament bans the approval of all loans until the ministry sorts out the NSSF problems.
He was also angry that finance minister Syda Bbumba has been constantly absent in the House to explain some of the issues raised. Okupa blasted the finance committee for failing to come out with a recommendation on NSSF despite the ongoing saga.
During the debate, MPs also demanded for an explanation on the Government’s shareholding in Victoria International Airways.
According to Okupa, the Government in 2006 invested $250,000 in the airlines, which was scheduled to start in November 2006. Okupa displayed documents in relation to the investment.
According to the documents, the company shareholders were Intercorp Holding of Switzerland, Government of Uganda, City Square Trading 678 of South Africa, Ruflex Global Limited and Declan Peppard.
Okupa said in 2006, the Government granted the company a five-year air service licence to operate passenger and cargo services to Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar-es salaam, Lusaka, Juba and Johannesburg. Omach declined to comment, but promised to table a detailed explanation on the matter.