Nommo Gallery queried over rent arrears
Mar 25, 2010
THE public accounts committee of Parliament is investigating allegations that the management of Nommo Gallery has not paid rent to the Government for 26 years.
By Mary Karugaba
THE public accounts committee of Parliament is investigating allegations that the management of Nommo Gallery has not paid rent to the Government for 26 years.
Meeting tourism minister Sarapio Rukundo yesterday, the MPs demanded to know why the art gallery has not paid rent to the Government.
“We have got information from the Auditor General’s office that Nommo Gallery, run by Gen. Elly Tumwine, has not paid rent for the last 26 years. Why haven’t you collected the money?†committee chairman Nandala Mafabi (FDC) asked Rukundo.
Rukundo, however, said the gallery is not under his ministry but said he would investigate the matter.
When contacted, Tumwine said the gallery belongs to the Uganda Artists’ Association, of which he is the patron.
He said the place was given to the association by President Milton Obote.
“It used to be under the Ministry of Gender but the Government left it to waste. It was about to close and the bush was all over. The Government never allocated any money in the budget to cater for it,†Tumwine said.
He explained that while he was chairman of the board of trustees in the early 90s, he devised means of generating income and revived the gallery.
Nommo Gallery is under the Uganda National Cultural Centre.
Tumwine said he was surprised when he received a letter from the director of the National Theatre demanding rent arrears.
“We have held meetings but there have never been issues of rent,†he said.
“Whoever brought this matter of rent to the committee is ignorant about the operations of Nommo Gallery. Pay rent for what?†Tumwine asked.
Rukundo was also grilled by the MPs for investing over sh600m in the construction of 12 huts at the Uganda Museum, which were soon after destroyed by termites.
According to the committee lead counsel, Tom Kazibwe (NRM), the ministry also spent sh15m on officials who travelled to Tanzania to study the construction of the huts.
“You thought CHOGM was a time to spend. The huts are now in ruins. How then did they benefit Ugandans?†Kazibwe asked.
Theodore Ssekikubo (NRM) wondered why the ministry has not taken interest in rebuilding the huts. Tumwine said he had earlier advised the Government to hire the huts to cultural institutions.
“If they had hired them (huts) out, they would be in a better shape than they are today,†he said.
THE public accounts committee of Parliament is investigating allegations that the management of Nommo Gallery has not paid rent to the Government for 26 years.
Meeting tourism minister Sarapio Rukundo yesterday, the MPs demanded to know why the art gallery has not paid rent to the Government.
“We have got information from the Auditor General’s office that Nommo Gallery, run by Gen. Elly Tumwine, has not paid rent for the last 26 years. Why haven’t you collected the money?†committee chairman Nandala Mafabi (FDC) asked Rukundo.
Rukundo, however, said the gallery is not under his ministry but said he would investigate the matter.
When contacted, Tumwine said the gallery belongs to the Uganda Artists’ Association, of which he is the patron.
He said the place was given to the association by President Milton Obote.
“It used to be under the Ministry of Gender but the Government left it to waste. It was about to close and the bush was all over. The Government never allocated any money in the budget to cater for it,†Tumwine said.
He explained that while he was chairman of the board of trustees in the early 90s, he devised means of generating income and revived the gallery.
Nommo Gallery is under the Uganda National Cultural Centre.
Tumwine said he was surprised when he received a letter from the director of the National Theatre demanding rent arrears.
“We have held meetings but there have never been issues of rent,†he said.
“Whoever brought this matter of rent to the committee is ignorant about the operations of Nommo Gallery. Pay rent for what?†Tumwine asked.
Rukundo was also grilled by the MPs for investing over sh600m in the construction of 12 huts at the Uganda Museum, which were soon after destroyed by termites.
According to the committee lead counsel, Tom Kazibwe (NRM), the ministry also spent sh15m on officials who travelled to Tanzania to study the construction of the huts.
“You thought CHOGM was a time to spend. The huts are now in ruins. How then did they benefit Ugandans?†Kazibwe asked.
Theodore Ssekikubo (NRM) wondered why the ministry has not taken interest in rebuilding the huts. Tumwine said he had earlier advised the Government to hire the huts to cultural institutions.
“If they had hired them (huts) out, they would be in a better shape than they are today,†he said.