The five officials at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) charged in connection with the procurement of substandard relief items worth shillings 668 million for victims of Kasese floods did not get clearance from the Solicitor General, court has heard.

On January 24, 2024, State Attorney Brenda Numukasa, from the Office of the Attorney General, informed the court that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) was not consulted.

While testifying as the third witness at the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala, Namukasa stated that the officials claimed the procurement was an emergency, yet there was nothing to indicate so.

The former OPM officials implicated in the scam, include Godfrey Kaima (undersecretary/accounting officer), Cyprian Dhikusooka (principal disaster management) and Mugerwa Kizito (Procurement Officer).

Others are Rose Nakabugo, the then-acting commissioner disaster preparedness and management and Martin Odong, a member of the evaluation committee. They are facing six charges of abuse of office and corruption.

Namukasa stated that, according to the accused, the procurement process was deemed an emergency and, therefore, the committee did not need to convene to approve the contract.

Namukasa told court presided over by chief magistrate Joan Aciro that the contract that was awarded to Emax Supplies & Logistics for the supply of blankets was signed by Kaima.

The court heard that, despite the accused's claim that the contract was an emergency, the contract committee convened and approved it. Yet, according to the prosecution in cases of emergencies, the standard procedure usually does not require the contract committee to convene for approval of a contract.

A principal assistant secretary at OPM, Daudi Bukomooko, another witness, stated that the Auditor General raised concerns about the procurement due to the observed irregularities.

Bukomooko indicated that the audit raised concerns about the process, citing allegations of irregularities.

Led by senior state attorney Nelly Asiku, Bukomooko denied approving the contract for the supply of blankets.

Prosecution’s case

According to the charges of abuse of office, Kaima is accused of authorising payment for blankets and tarpaulins without obtaining clearance from the solicitor general.

On the corruption count, Nakabugo and Dhikusooka face allegations of failing to provide a clear statement of requirements with specifications for blankets and Tarpaulins, a duty incumbent upon them.

It is alleged that as members of the evaluation committee, they abused their positions by purportedly asserting that Canaan Supply and Construction Limited had complied with the submission of documents for eligibility, despite no documents being filed in relation to the procurement of tarpaulins.

The prosecution further claims that members of the evaluation committee falsely represented that Emax Supplies and Logistics Limited was responsive to technical specifications for the procurement of blankets when, in fact, it was not. The case was adjourned to March 25, 2024, for further hearing.