Research chief scared of minister

Jul 03, 2007

THE director general of the National Agricultural Research Organisation has told Parliament that he can not ask the agriculture state minister to explain why he failed to pay rent of sh15.6m for the institution’s house.

By Mary Karugaba

THE director general of the National Agricultural Research Organisation has told Parliament that he can not ask the agriculture state minister to explain why he failed to pay rent of sh15.6m for the institution’s house.

Dennis Kyetere yesterday told MPs on the public accounts committee that whereas he could produce all documents relating to the controversial house, he could not compel the minister, Kibirige Ssebunya, to make a written explanation.

The Auditor General report of 2001-05 stated that the minister in 1998 rented one of the houses belonging to Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute for 15 months at sh300,000 per month but never paid till he left in May 2002.

Asked whether he could compel the minister to make a written explanation on why he defaulted, Kyetere said the matter was ‘sensitive’ and asked the MPs to help him write the letter.

“I cannot write to the minister. This matter is very sensitive. I request that the committee writes to him demanding for the explanation. I am willing to produce any other document but not a demand letter.”

The committee chief, Ssebuliba Mutumba, promised to intervene. “We shall write. We know these things.”

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