IGG probes claims against UNRA

By Pascal Kwesiga

KAMPALA - The Inspector General of Government is probing 76 claims of questionable conduct against the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).

Justice Irene Mulyagonja said the complaints include abuse of office, bribery, conflict of interest and embezzlement. Others are forged academic documents, non-payment, undervaluation of property and irregularities during procurement.

She was speaking during the launch of the commission of inquiry constituted by President Yoweri Museveni last month to probe corruption allegations against UNRA at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala yesterday.

Mulyagonja asked the commission, chaired by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, to look into complaints received by the ombudsman, in addition to other claims during the three months of its investigations.

The commission received financial and engineering audit reports about UNRA operations as its first set of exhibits from the Auditor General, John Muwanga. The reports cover the period between the 2008/9 financial year, when the roads authority was set up, to 2014/2015.

It also received procurement, administrative review and contract audit reports into UNRA’s operations as exhibits from the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets executive director, Cornelia Sabiti, covering six financial years.

Sabiti also submitted investigation reports into the mismanagement of road projects such as Mukono-Katosi, Mubende-Kakumiro-Kagadi and Fort Portal-Kamwenge. Other reports are on the procurement of contracts and equipment.

The executive director of the Uganda Road Fund, Eng. Moses Odongo, submitted reports of two financial audits on the roads authority works and expenditures. The fund finances UNRA’s road maintainance projects.

Odongo said he will furnish the commission with findings of the third audit, which is still underway.
 

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The commission, Muwanga, said will be ‘intrigued’ by the findings from his financial and engineering audits into UNRA’s operations over the years. His reports include a special audit into the Ntungamo-Kagamba road project bank accounts.

“You find contractors with a lot of work getting more projects. This causes delays and variations in the costs of projects. Overpayment of contractors and international contracts being advertised locally,” he added.

Works and transport minister Eng. John Byabagambi reiterated that the inquiry is not intended to witch-hunt anyone.

UNRA, he explained, has pulled off several road construction projects, but it does not mean its operations are flawless.

Bamugemereire said the commission will conduct public hearings starting on Monday.

She asked people with complaints against UNRA to bring them forward.

Muwanga, Sabiti and Odongo, she noted, will be called back to provide clarification on the findings in their reports. Bamugemereire said some of the witnesses will give testimony in camera, depending on the nature of the evidence.

The commission, which comprises Ben Okello Luwum, Abraham Nkata, Eng. Patrick Rusongoza and Richard Mungati, issued hotlines: 0776123099, 0700123999 and 0713123099 for the public to submit their complaints. The commission sits at the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala.

Other commission members are Charles Emuria, Daniel Rutiba, Mary Kutesa and Andrew Kasirye, the lead counsel.