MPs pin energy ministry officials over sh13b

By Paul Kiwuuwa                                       

The ministry of energy and mineral development chief accountanting officer, Eng. Paul Mubiru has come under scrutiny when MPs raised a red flag, for failure to take action on the ministry’s workers who have not accounted for over sh13bn.

The MPs on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) warned Mubiru that failure to account for the tax payers' monies promotes fraud, calling on them to refund the money as required by the financial accounting procedures.

In his report of 2011/2012, the auditor noted sh9.2b, was charged on items which do not reflect the nature of the expenditure.

The committee learnt that a total of sh9.2b was diverted to activities that were not budgeted for.

“Funds meant to be spent on staff allowances were spent on fuel, stationery, tuition advanced to staff on various studies,” the auditor general report said.

“We shall recommend the authorities to investigate and charge you in courts of law or make a refund, the committee chairperson Alice Alaso, (Serere Woman MP) ruled.

The Ntungamo municipality MP, Yonna Musinguzi   said: “Mischarge of expenditure encourages frauds, you have ashamed your position to defend the ministry’s funds.”

 The MPs learnt sh4.4b was transferred from the treasury general account, without parliament or the finance ministry authorization of the transaction.

In his defense Mubiru said: “The account is used to handle operations activities in the ministry for hydro power projects like Karuma and Isimba.”

“Why did you flout the law to seek permission from Parliament before you transferred the funds?” Gomba woman MP, Nakato Kyabangi asked.


“The nature of the work was urgent, which prompted us to transfer the funds,” he responded.

 
The MPs also learnt that sh375m was withdrawn in cash to facilitate travels abroad by the ministry officials to undertake International hydropower meetings, oil and gas consultative process, capacity building for electricity disputes resolution, investment conferences and nuclear energy training.

On further scrutiny, the officials lacked the travel documents, which prompted the MPs to suspect fraud.


The Bufumbira East MP, Eddie Kwizera demanded: “Produces   names of officials who travelled, and attended the meetings, recorded minutes of the meetings, travel used travel tickets and dates of boarding passes, visas.”

“We haven’t brought the documents, but we shall bring them next time,” Mubiru pleaded.