Ministry staff paid sh32m to attend Kategaya burial

By Mary Karugaba and Umaru Kashaka

OFFICIALS from the Ministry of the East African Community Affairs on Monday had a difficult time accounting for billions of shillings that they spent.

MPs on the public accounts committee heard that during the year under review, the ministry spent sh32m as allowances for staff to attend the burial of the late First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Eriya Kategaya.

The MPs wondered whether it was necessary to spend all that money on individuals given that the expense had already been met by the state.

The committee chairperson, Paul Mwiru, said the expenditure was wasteful since the Prime Minister’s Office and the presidency had also budgeted for the same item.

“If the Prime Minister heard that people benefited from his death, he would turn in his grave. We are going to hold you accountable and where possible, make you refund the money,” Mwiru said.

This was before Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi chipped in sarcastically: “This Prime Minister was very expensive. How could you spend this much on one person?”

Kategaya died in March last year of a blood clot. 

The officials led by the permanent secretary, Edith Mwanje, were appearing before the committee to answer queries raised by the auditors in a report to Parliament for the financial years 2012/13.

The MPs were also shocked to learn that part of the sh631m was diverted on activities such as ‘fuel abroad’, visas to Kenya, Christmas cards, workshops, vehicle maintenance abroad, flowers, water for office toilets, photos abroad, per diem, advertising and public relations.

MPs wondered whether Ugandans are meant to buy visas to go to Kenya.

“You people be serious, do we need to buy visas to travel to Kenya? How about fuel? Do did you put it in the plane?” Mwiru asked.

Mwanje said the diversion was “highly regrettable in areas it occurred, but it is not true that the whole amount (sh631m) was diverted”.

Sensing trouble, Mwanje, however, explained that the fuel was used by officers who took a road trip to Kenya and the funds on vehicle maintenance abroad was for “just in case a vehicle broke down”.

Mwanje said the ministry sometimes purchases water for use in the toilets. “Usually water is disconnected; so we buy water and use buckets to pour water in the toilets,” the officers said.

Legislators also heard that sh758m was withdrawn in cash during the year under review, but there were no documents to back up the claim.

Mwanje explained that the accountability and documents for this expenditure were available, but the issue was raised in the addendum after the management letter had been responded to by the ministry.

The MPs further demanded to know the type of advertising and public relations activities that cost sh244m.

The auditors also cited payment of sh2.3m to Simon Kagumire, a personal assistant to the minister; sh6m for James Opolot, an accounts assistant; sh9m for Tumusiime and Bashir Kasujja, both drivers, for a conference meant for ministers.