IGG storms out of Parliament

Apr 18, 2007

THE Inspector General of Government (IGG), Lady Justice Faith Mwondha, yesterday walked out of the parliamentary legal committee, after she was grilled by the MPs over the creation of a new department of civil litigation.

THE Inspector General of Government (IGG), Lady Justice Faith Mwondha, yesterday walked out of the parliamentary legal committee, after she was grilled by the MPs over the creation of a new department of civil litigation.

Apollo Mubiru reports that as the committee chairperson, Peter Nyombi, was giving his concluding remarks, Mwondha stood up and directed her staff to leave.

“I am adjourning this meeting but it has not been a fruitful meeting. All we want you to understand is….” Nyombi said, to which the IGG responded: “Of course, I understand. But I can also tell you that it has not been a fruitful meeting.”

MPs Sam Njuba, Wilfred Nuwagaba and Asuman Kiyingi assured her that although they were asking her questions, it did not mean they were against her office. But Mwondha retorted: “The Inspectorate of Government is independent. If you don’t give it powers, then scrap it because you are rendering it toothless. You are just interested in criticising the inspectorate.”

Mwondha had earlier told the committee they needed the new department because the office of the Attorney General was frustrating her office.

She asserted that some lawyers in the Attorney General’s office connived with the perpetuators of corruption, adding that officers in the chambers at times did not turn up in court, making the inspectorate lose cases.

“We need this department to deal with the so-called untouchables. When we prefer charges against them, they are bailed out even before the cases reach court,” the IGG said.

Mwondha, who appeared before the committee to present the budget for the next financial year, told MPs that her office had budgeted sh285m for the new department.

When Nyombi asked her to clarify her statements and lobby the Attorney General over the matter, Mwondha resolutely rejected the suggestion. “This business of lobbying the Attorney General on a constitutional matter does not arise. Who is supposed to make laws? Fighting corruption is everybody’s responsibility,” she charged.

But Nyombi pleaded: “Lady Justice, when you say that the Attorney General’s staff connive with the perpetuators of corruption, we cannot simply present that to the House without further substantiation.”

Before he could conclude his remarks, a visibly disturbed IGG said: “You as MPs should express your will to fight corruption. I am disappointed if that is what you are saying. You cannot lecture me. I know the mandate of this committee. I know what you are trying to say. I do understand and I know what I am doing. I would not be holding this office if I were not competent.”

The secretary to the inspectorate, Waiswa Bageya, had earlier told the committee that they had a shortfall of sh4.7b. He said the inspectorate spends sh80m on rent per month. MPs advised them to talk to the Uganda Land Commission to allocate them a plot so that they can construct them a permanent home.

The secretary said the funding gap resulted from the setting up of regional offices after the creation of new districts.

Waiswa also said they require sh450m to clear a backlog of over 3,000 cases.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});