Chopper probe gets one month

THE Government has gazetted the instrument establishing a judicial commission of inquiry into the controversial 1997 purchase of MI 24 helicopters at $6.5m by the army. The probe team has been given one month to hand over its findings to the Defence Ministry reports Alfred Wasike. The instrument creating the commission was entered into the official Uganda Gazette, Volume XCIII Number 66 on November 10, 2000, sources in the defence and justice ministries said yesterday. High Court Justice Julia Sebutinde will lead the investigation. The other commissioners are Geoffrey Kiryabwire (member), Maureen Owor (counsel) and Esther Kisakye Mayambala (the secretary). The instrument, signed by the Minister of State for Defence, Steven Kavuma, said, "The commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Minister of State for Defence (General Duties) within one month after commencing its duties." "The terms of reference of the commission shall be to inquire into all the circumstances pertaining to the procurement, purchase, acceptance, delivery and payment for MI 24 helicopters for the army," it said. The Sebutinde team will "establish whether there was any loss occasioned to the Government, to establish whether any officer of the UPDF, any officer of the Government or any other person corruptly received gratification as an inducement for any act or omission regarding the transaction." It will also establish whether there was any negligence on the part of any UPDF or Government officer or any other person in the transaction. It will also inquire into any other issues relevant to the matter. The helicopter transaction has sparked off a controversy. Ends.