The Inspector General of Government said on Thursday that he has received Shs891 million for the Chogm investigations.
Mr Raphael Baku said that he would, by close of May, prosecute individuals in case they are found guilty. The Inspectorate of Government has opened more than 10 files on top officials suspected to have abused public funds meant for 2007 Chogm meet. “I have already opened case files in the areas of procurement of hotel services, vehicles and beautification of Kampala,” Mr Baku said. He also said he had opened other files on the suspected diversion of funds to work on the Northern By-pass. When the Public Accounts Committee investigated the audited report, it was discovered that most ministers including the Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, were suspicious of causing financial loss.
Avoid individuals
The same PAC report faulted Ms Hope Mwesigye, then junior minister of local government, for the loss in beautification of Kampala while Ministers Sam Kutesa and John Nasasira were faulted for the procurement of hotel services and vehicles respectively.
Mr Baku, however, told MPs that he would not summon any political individual until the end of his investigations “because procurements are done by groups of people in committees”. “But if we find any minister with an error, we shall call them and prosecute them accordingly,” he said. He told MPs that his office met with the DPP and the police and shared out the responsibilities on how the three bodies would under go investigations and subsequent prosecutions.
The IGG said he was directed by the prime minister to start the investigations and it is from the PM that he got a copy of the Auditor General’s report; which he is using as a pointer, “although he does fresh investigations”. “At first we were reluctant because Chogm was not part of the planned activities of the inspectorate but we later were given money,” he added. Appearing before the medium term expenditure framework’s committee, Mr Baku and his team said they had in the last financial years prosecuted at least 38 cases successfully while 100 are still pending.