Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have today grilled the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Keith Muhakanizi over the ‘missing’ US$200 million (about Shs736bn) meant to buy drugs for the National Medical Stores (NMS), with some baying for his neck to be put on the guillotine.
According to the PAC MPs including the outspoken ones like Gerald Karuhanga and Mathias Mpuuga, Muhakanizi is arrogant and not fit to be the supervisor of accounting officers in the country.
“What moral authority do you have to discipline others when it’s you who has instilled this behaviour? You should resign,” MP Mathias Mpuuga told the PS/ST.
MP Karuhanga added: “This committee is not pleased by the way you have been conducting yourself. You’re arrogant.”
Earlier, the PS/ST had reportedly told the MPs that ‘those who say that money is lost should ask Auditor General to investigate’.
He was, however, quick to make amends, saying that answer was not directed to MPs but to a journalist.
“I’m sorry; I was answering a journalist not Members of Parliament,” he told the undeterred MPs, including Mpuuga who then questioned his relevance to the country.
“Mr. Muhakanizi, this nonsense from finance must stop. If you are a patron of your junior officers, you are not our patron, the Masaka Municipality MP Mpuuga to the PS/ST, questioning his integrity and demanding an equivocal explanation from Muhakanizi on what his role is to the ministry and to the country.
“Parliament has decided that you come and explain yourself. You need to reflect on your conduct Mr Muhakanizi,” Mpuuga said.
He added: “All the accounting officers are crying that you have taken all the powers of the Parliament and you don’t communicate.”
