Finance minister Suruma raps PAC report
Apr 09, 2008
THE finance minister, Dr. Ezra Suruma, has asked MPs to reject a report of the public accounts committee (PAC), which recommended the sacking and prosecution of the deputy secretary to the treasury.
By Peter Kaujju
THE finance minister, Dr. Ezra Suruma, has asked MPs to reject a report of the public accounts committee (PAC), which recommended the sacking and prosecution of the deputy secretary to the treasury.
The committee wanted Keith Muhakanizi held responsible for authorising the release of sh7.7b from the Uganda Development Bank to Apparels Tri-Star and Phenix companies.
The money was supposed to help the companies tap into opportunities created by the African Growth and Opportunities Act.
The committee, chaired by Nandala Mafabi (FDC), said the money was instead used to serve personal interests of then finance state minister Mwesigwa Rukutana. Rukutana is currently the labour state minister.
Briefing the NRM parliamentary caucus this week, Suruma said the money was distributed under the textile development policy.
“The funds that were transferred to the companies had been duly budgeted for and approved by Parliament,†Suruma wrote in a brief to the caucus.
“It is clear, therefore, that both Rukutana and Muhakanizi were carrying out their duties in the implementation of Government policy.â€
Suruma said the committee might have had “an ulterior motive†by altering the facts.
He recommended that committee members responsible for the sacking recommendation be punished.
“This is necessary for the credibility of the public accounts committee as an organ at the forefront of accountability.â€
Apparels Tri-Star collapsed and has been taken over by Libya Africa Portfolio, an investment arm of the Libyan government.
Phenix is asking the Government for more financial support to stay in business.
THE finance minister, Dr. Ezra Suruma, has asked MPs to reject a report of the public accounts committee (PAC), which recommended the sacking and prosecution of the deputy secretary to the treasury.
The committee wanted Keith Muhakanizi held responsible for authorising the release of sh7.7b from the Uganda Development Bank to Apparels Tri-Star and Phenix companies.
The money was supposed to help the companies tap into opportunities created by the African Growth and Opportunities Act.
The committee, chaired by Nandala Mafabi (FDC), said the money was instead used to serve personal interests of then finance state minister Mwesigwa Rukutana. Rukutana is currently the labour state minister.
Briefing the NRM parliamentary caucus this week, Suruma said the money was distributed under the textile development policy.
“The funds that were transferred to the companies had been duly budgeted for and approved by Parliament,†Suruma wrote in a brief to the caucus.
“It is clear, therefore, that both Rukutana and Muhakanizi were carrying out their duties in the implementation of Government policy.â€
Suruma said the committee might have had “an ulterior motive†by altering the facts.
He recommended that committee members responsible for the sacking recommendation be punished.
“This is necessary for the credibility of the public accounts committee as an organ at the forefront of accountability.â€
Apparels Tri-Star collapsed and has been taken over by Libya Africa Portfolio, an investment arm of the Libyan government.
Phenix is asking the Government for more financial support to stay in business.