Bugweri County legislator, Abdu Katuntu will lead the investigation into how 42 government officials shared Shs6 billion as a reward for defending Uganda in a two oil cases against two British firms, Heritage Oil and Gas and Tullow Oil.
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga ruled during the plenary sitting this afternoon Thursday, January 19, 2017 that the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) will lead the inquiries.
“I trust Cosase, it has been doing a good work,”Ms Kadaga told MPs, adding: “Investigate claims that public officers solicited for a payment, honorarium, bonus or golden handshake totaling Shs6 billion from the president contrary to standard practices of rewarding public
officers.”
According to Kadaga, Cosase should also investigate “the basis of determination of beneficiaries to the bonus payments including a full account of the role of each beneficiary in the court case.”
She further instructed the committee to examine whether all the proper and legal procedures under the laws of Uganda were followed in making the alleged payments.
“Scrutinise all supplementary requests and other budget allocations provided to the public officers in facilitating the court processes in Uganda and abroad. Establish all revenue so far received by government in the petroleum fund,” she said.
The committee is further to examine any other matters related to the matter and make policy recommendations for the sound management of public finances.
“Do anything incidental to and pursuant to the terms of reference and report back to the House within two months,” she added.
However, as Ms Kadaga instructed Cosase, government insisted on forming a parallel committee, different from the standing committees of the house.
