Ministers used CHOGM money to do roads to their businesses

The bill for road works done under the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting (Chogm) 2007 in Kampala is expected to rise above the Shs.96 billion figure previously quoted, the lead counsel of the Public Accounts Committee of parliament, Tom Kazibwe, has said.

The legislator revealed that while Shs 21.7 billion is what was initially budgeted for Chogm roads, the committee has since discovered that government spent more than Shs.96.4 billion and more debts are being unearthed.

Kazibweâ€™s comments followed the appearance on Thursday morning of senior officials of the Ministry of Works before the Public Accounts Committee.

The officials who were led by the Permanent Secretary, Charles Muganzi and Acting Chief Engineer, Mugisa Obyero, revealed that ministers used their positions to divert money meant for public roads under Chogm. Some of it was used to pay for private access roads leading up to properties in which the ministers have interests.

The officials claimed that the diversions were effected without the knowledge of the Ministryâ€™s accounting officers.

The committee heard that State Minister for Regional Cooperation, Isaac Musumba, had Works Minister John Nasasira work on Sserunkuma Road, a private lane leading to his Enkombe Apartments in Mbuya, a Kampala suburb, while Works State Minister John Byabagambi allegedly connived with the Chief Engineer Sam Bagonza to spend Shs.12.6 million on a lane on Kitante Road leading to Ibamba Restaurant owned by former agriculture minister and Nyabushozi MP Mary Mugyenyi.

Minister Byabagambi has since denied any wrong doing, but his Regional Cooperation colleague, Isaac Musumba was not available for comment.

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Sack Nasasira first
written by Lakwena, March 12, 2010

Nasasira cannot claim not to know what went wrong. But what infuriates in this country is that a pack of stinky hyenas also want to be respected, saluted and feared. This is a Ministry of Works syndicate, where all the top dogs know who diverted how much on what, when and how. But the denial of wrongdoing will reach the high heavens. Sadly though our weak president will do nothing. He will find a way of pardoning them, like he did with his brother Saleh and Mr. Mbabazi Karya Sausage. However if he is tough as he claims to be; then those officials, beginning with John Nasasira must be sacked first and prosecuted forthwith. If that happens I will vote for him in 2011. But I don't see it happening.

The Public Accounts Committee is useless!
written by Emma Kakembo, March 14, 2010

The Public Accounts Committee is demonstrating an embarrassing lack of intelligence.

Ibamba rents space from the Min. of Tourism on a plot that shares a gate and parking lot with the National Museum as well as the cultural village (behind the Museum) that was erected for CHOGM.

There is no lane leading to Ibamba. The road in question is Kira Road which is by all means a public road!

I want to know where the CHOGM money went.

I have no choice but to doubt that the PAC will waste more money chasing their own tail!

Road construction was good
written by Dian Kenneth, March 15, 2010

Just playing the devil's advocate here: If the ministers constructed the roads, then it was money put to good use. We will use the roads. Just imagine how many pot holes they have eradicated and accidents they have averted by constructing these roads. In fact, if all those who stole public funds used it to construct schools, hospitals, roads etc that can be used by the same public, we would be at a different level of development. At least they have constructed roads, others would ship the money to their foreign accounts (although sadly, they may have done both)!

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Ministers used CHOGM money to do roads to their businesses

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