The Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi is a happy man after it emerged today that the Inspector General of Government has cleared him of CHOGM related corruption and abuse of office charges.
A report by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee released in May 2010 had implicated Mbabazi, then Minister of Security of “Influence peddling” in the deal awarded to Balton (U) Ltd at USD 5 million by the CHOGM Security subcommittee.
Amama Mbabazi John Patrick, new prime Minister of Uganda
The IGG’s reporting coming exactly a year later has exonerated Mbabazi saying that the procurement procedures for the Security Communication System for CHOGM 2007 was conducted in line with Section 4(1) of the PPDA Act, 2003.
Here is a partial excerpt of the IGG report after PAC recommended the IGG to investigate those accused of corruption in the Auditor General’s report:
“It is true the USD. 5,000,000 for Security Communication System for CHOGM was initially not audited by the office of the Auditor General under the approved CHOGM funds/expenditures in April 2008. Subsequently, on 08/01/2009. Mr. John Muwanga carried out a special Audit of the National Backbone Infrastructure and E-Government Project (NBI/GEI) that covered the US$ 5,000,000 for Security communication system for CHOGM”.
“From the details in the findings of paragraph 5.2, observations of paragraph 6.2 of this report and documents on record there was no evidence to indicate conflict of interest, and influence peddling in the process of procuring Tetra Communication System by Hon. Amama Mbabazi, Minister of Security or any other person as stated in the PAC report of May 2010.”
The PAC had recommended the prosecution of Amama Mbabazi, then Vice President Gulbert Bukenya, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa, Transport and Works Minister John Nasasira, former agriculture minister Hope Mwesigye, former Ministers of State John Byabagambi ( Works ), Mwesigwa Rukutana (labour), Fred Omach (Finance), Serapio Rukundo (Tourism) and Isaac Musumba (Regional Cooperation).
Only Prof. Bukenya has so far been charged with CHOGM related offenses in the anti corruption court. The IGG, Raphael Baku recently said many more public officers implicated will be charged.
Ultimate Media