Works PS angry over graft report

May 19, 2008

THE works ministry permanent secretary, Charles Muganzi, has reacted angrily to a report by the Auditor General and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority.<br>

By Anne Mugisa

THE works ministry permanent secretary, Charles Muganzi, has reacted angrily to a report by the Auditor General and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority.

He accused the two of trying to tarnish his name. This followed a report in The New Vision on Friday, which said Muganzi was in trouble over irregularities in last year’s CHOGM road works.

According to the report, the Auditor General instituted an investigation into the project after it was established that procurement procedures had been flouted and there were variations in the prices quoted for the different road works.

“This is malicious. Under international rules of any audit, you must give me an opportunity to comment on your queries before you publish the report,” Muganzi charged.

“This is because when the Auditor General does not agree with my response, he indicates it in the report. This did not happen. They never sought our views.”

He added that the Auditor General sent the report to the works ministry on Wednesday and the procurement authority had not sent their questions to the ministry.

“The Auditor General instead asked the ministry for a meeting to review the report on June 5,” Muganzi stated.

“The two bodies lumped the CHOGM activities of other ministries with that of works, to allege that it failed in completion but paid the contractors.”

According to the PS, beautification was under the local government ministry and publicity was handled by foreign affairs.

“The Ministry of Works handled the emergency road repairs and the contractors got payment only for work done.”

He noted that some of the money was released a month to CHOGM and some venues revealed a few weeks to the event.

“How could the competitive bidding have been carried out when there was no time to do it?”

Muganzi admitted though that some of the road works had not been completed.

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