The Uganda Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged to provide proper accountability for the money that will be given to the Foreign Affairs ministry to organize the forthcoming African Union (AU) summit in Uganda.
The 15th Africa Union summit which will attract heads of African governments, civil society organizations and business executives among others is lated for 25th to 27th July, 2010.
Foreign Affairs minister, Sam Kuteesa
Uganda opposition politicians and activists have already expressed fears that the money geared towards organizing the summit may be diverted to personal use by ministry officials.
Top foreign affairs ministry official including the Minister Sam Kuteesa are alleged to have misused funds meant for organizing the 2007 CHOGM summit according to the Uganda parliamentary public accounts committee report.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, James Mugume told Parliament that his ministry has put in place measures to ensure that the funds are not mismanaged like warning accounting officers of the various ministries to be cautious with their expenditures.
Mugume says the Uganda foreign affairs ministry is also ensuring that proper procurement guidelines are followed in procuring goods and services meant for organizing the summit.
Meanwhile, the Uganda Committee of Parliament for Foreign Affairs has allowed the disbursement of more 2 billion Uganda Shillings to the Ministry of Finance to beef up its budget for AU summit.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa says the budget was raised from about 9 billion Uganda Shillings to about 11 billion Uganda Shillings because there was need to cater for 13 more Heads of State that will come from the Caribbean to attend the summit.
Minister Kutesa says he has clearly explained to the parliamentary committee the reasons behind the budget increment by 2 billion shillings which the Uganda Foreign Affairs Parliamentary committee accepted.
Anthem of the African Union
By Zacharia Tiberindwa, Ultimate Media