UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) Beti Kamya has pinned top Uganda Land Commission (ULC) officials for their participation in a USh511 million corruption scandal, and is forcing them to repay the misappropriated money.
The IGG announced that over USh500m was misappropriated during the 2018/2019 Financial Year, in a statement on October 12.
“The Inspectorate of Government received various complaints relating to corruption and abuse of office by officials of the Uganda Land Commission for the Financial Year 2018/2019,” the statement reads.
Former ULC Secretary Mr Robert Vincent Nyombi is charged with authorising an USh325 million unexplained payment.
Ms Geogis Abeland Bigirwa, the former accounts assistant at the Commission, received USh73 million of this, and 13 other employees each received USh13 million for services that they did not do.
The statement further states that as compensation for the land in Sheema Block 20 Plot 49 in Sheema District, the Commission gave Mr Benon Rwabukuru, Ms Catherine Kajwasa, and Ms Peninah more than USh186 million.
The trio made fraudulent statements that led to the extra payment, and have been told to return the money.
This is a continuation of the Ombudsman’s cleaning up of the ULC, which was identified as a hotspot for corruption in an audit by the Parliament’s COSASE committee.
Other Government Officials Charged By IGG
Two further government employees have also been named by the IGG and might be forced to pay back up to USh247 million.
Internal auditor, Mr Michael Ojok Tokoya, of the Uganda Virus Research Institute, has been forced to return USh129 million that he received as assistance for the verification of domestic land compensation claimant arrears but was unable to account for when questioned.
The USh118 million that Mr Steven Washington Musamali, a senior accountant at the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity, got as a convenience for the verification of domestic arrears but was unable to account for, will be refunded.
The IGG’s decision to name those responsible marks a change in how it operates, particularly after rejecting to release the identities of the ministers involved in the USh9 billion scam at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
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