MPs delay meeting detectives cited in pension scam

By Umaru Kashaka

A meeting between MPs and detectives accused of taking bribes to kill a case of at least sh165b belonging to pensioners has been postponed.

The move is to allow public hearings on the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill 2015 that provides a series of amendments to the 1995 Constitution ahead of next year's general elections to be held.

"We decided to handle the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2015 first because its urgent and other issues will be considered later," West Budama North, Fox Odoi, told New Vision.

However, the legal affairs committee of parliament chairperson, Stephen Tashobya, had told New Vision that the three police officers told them they were not available for the May 11 meeting.

"I got the information from the clerk to the committee that the officers said they were not available to meet us on Monday. They said they were unable to come and I then asked the clerk to see if we can meet them before this week ends," Tashobya said.

The move to question the officers, he said, was in light of recent press reports in regard to bribery allegation.

"We must meet them this week," Tashobya, who is also the Kajara County MP, said emphatically.

The head of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Directorate, Grace Akullo, was recently quoted as having stated that two police detectives—George Komurubuga and Moses Kato—took bribes and wrote a different report that reportedly led to the collapse of the case.

However, she later said she was misquoted.

The Kololo-based Anti-Corruption Court on April 13, dismissed the case that involved several top officials of the public service ministry, including interdicted permanent secretary Jimmy Lwamafa and the former principal accountant, Christopher Obey.

The Chief Magistrate Sarah Langa Siu faulted the State for failure to bring witnesses to testify against the nine suspects.

According to the Auditor General's report dated December 21, 2012, the sh165b was embezzled during the financial years 2009/2010 to 2011/2012 under the pretext of paying pensions.

The deputy Inspector General of Police, Okoth Ochola told the committee on Friday that the police Professional Standards Unit was investigating allegations of bribery and that the Director of Public Prosecutions would reinstate the case.