Name corrupt ministers, IGG tells VP Bukenya
Jun 02, 2005
THE Inspector General of Government (IGG) has challenged Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya to expose ministers who have amassed wealth and invested in the swanky suburbs of Kololo, Nakasero and Bugolobi.
By Milton Olupot
THE Inspector General of Government (IGG) has challenged Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya to expose ministers who have amassed wealth and invested in the swanky suburbs of Kololo, Nakasero and Bugolobi.
Bukenya last week accused the IGG of carrying out covert investigations of his properties.
“If there is no fair play I will expose all those (with wealth amassed and invested) in Kololo, Nakasero and Bugolobi,†Bukenya said.
IGG Faith Mwondha said, “As the VP of Uganda, with goodwill to fight corruption, let him assist the IGG instead of doing the contrary.â€
Mwondha denied a covert probe against Bukenya. She said in a statement yesterday that she was carrying out a normal verification of Bukenya’s declaration of income, assets and liabilities, which he submitted in 2002.
“The office of the IGG has no reason to witchhunt H.E the VP and has not been instigated by any person to carry out investigations in respect of the VP. There is no probe that is being carried out by this office,†she said.
Bukenya’s press secretary Simon Kaheru, however, said, “The VP did not lie. His concerns were stated clearly in the letter to the Editor. Photographing his property and the methods of verification were not revealed to him. They were never discussed. In addition was the manner in which the IGG people were behaving, especially the gentlemen who demanded a receipt for the kibanja (land) which the VP inherited from his father.â€
Mwondha said her office wanted to find out if the VP did not declare all his assets and liabilities.
She said Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi and other ministers have undergone the same. “Verification of permanent secretaries’ declaration is also ongoing,†she said.
Mwondha said Bukenya was aware of the verification. She said on February 27, 2004, the IGG, after detecting some discrepancies, wrote to him for clarification. Bukenya wrote back on March 30, 2004. In another letter yesterday, the IGG wrote to Bukenya informing him that a team of officers would be verifying his properties. “The letter was hand delivered to H.E. Prof. Gilbert Bukenya himself in his office by two officers. Dr. Muduuli, his principal private secretary (PPS) was present.
“The officers introduced themselves and he was informed that they would carry out physical inspections and visit all his properties. He did not object. His Excellency told his PPS to give the IGG team details of his personal lawyer, who would provide all the details of his properties,†Mwondha said.
She said the IGG officers kept in touch with the PPS, and on March 2, 2005, the VP’s officers took the inspectors to the VPs properties in the Minister’s Village, Ntinda and the photos were taken in their presence.
“His properties were inspected, photographs taken and his bank account inspected in accordance with the law, and with his knowledge.
“The verification was done in the presence of his officers. At no time were the inspectorate officers escorted by a security official,†Mwondha said.
THE Inspector General of Government (IGG) has challenged Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya to expose ministers who have amassed wealth and invested in the swanky suburbs of Kololo, Nakasero and Bugolobi.
Bukenya last week accused the IGG of carrying out covert investigations of his properties.
“If there is no fair play I will expose all those (with wealth amassed and invested) in Kololo, Nakasero and Bugolobi,†Bukenya said.
IGG Faith Mwondha said, “As the VP of Uganda, with goodwill to fight corruption, let him assist the IGG instead of doing the contrary.â€
Mwondha denied a covert probe against Bukenya. She said in a statement yesterday that she was carrying out a normal verification of Bukenya’s declaration of income, assets and liabilities, which he submitted in 2002.
“The office of the IGG has no reason to witchhunt H.E the VP and has not been instigated by any person to carry out investigations in respect of the VP. There is no probe that is being carried out by this office,†she said.
Bukenya’s press secretary Simon Kaheru, however, said, “The VP did not lie. His concerns were stated clearly in the letter to the Editor. Photographing his property and the methods of verification were not revealed to him. They were never discussed. In addition was the manner in which the IGG people were behaving, especially the gentlemen who demanded a receipt for the kibanja (land) which the VP inherited from his father.â€
Mwondha said her office wanted to find out if the VP did not declare all his assets and liabilities.
She said Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi and other ministers have undergone the same. “Verification of permanent secretaries’ declaration is also ongoing,†she said.
Mwondha said Bukenya was aware of the verification. She said on February 27, 2004, the IGG, after detecting some discrepancies, wrote to him for clarification. Bukenya wrote back on March 30, 2004. In another letter yesterday, the IGG wrote to Bukenya informing him that a team of officers would be verifying his properties. “The letter was hand delivered to H.E. Prof. Gilbert Bukenya himself in his office by two officers. Dr. Muduuli, his principal private secretary (PPS) was present.
“The officers introduced themselves and he was informed that they would carry out physical inspections and visit all his properties. He did not object. His Excellency told his PPS to give the IGG team details of his personal lawyer, who would provide all the details of his properties,†Mwondha said.
She said the IGG officers kept in touch with the PPS, and on March 2, 2005, the VP’s officers took the inspectors to the VPs properties in the Minister’s Village, Ntinda and the photos were taken in their presence.
“His properties were inspected, photographs taken and his bank account inspected in accordance with the law, and with his knowledge.
“The verification was done in the presence of his officers. At no time were the inspectorate officers escorted by a security official,†Mwondha said.