A whistleblower, names withheld, has petitioned Members of Parliament to investigate circumstances under which Shs1 billion meant to purchase fuel for Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) was instead allegedly swindled by KCCA’s Acting Executive Director Eng. Andrew Kitaka in convince with other officials.
The whistleblower alleges in a letter date November 30, 2019 that Kitaka and two other KCCA officials connived with the Managing Director of Total Uganda to fleece the taxpayers of the money in the fake fuel deal.
“A theft racket involving Engineer Andrew Kitaka the Acting Executive Director KCCA, Richard Lule the Director Administration and Human Resource; and George Opio, the Deputy Director Human Resource have stolen KCCA/Tax payer’s money to the tone of over Shs1 billion worth of fuel in alliance with the Managing Director of Total Uganda James Obi. They used fake/concocted Invoices against fuel that was never taken by KCCA vehicles/ drivers,” the whistleblower said.
To…confuse the unsuspecting members of the public, the whistleblower says a one George Opio was sent on forced leave over this scam. “But the two people in the same theft racket cannot take appropriate action with regards to this theft,” the whistleblower says.
“The purpose of this letter is to request you to cause the relevant organs to investigate this theft and bring the thieves to book,” he says.
The whistleblower has copied his letter to Mr. Erias Lukwago, Lord Mayor, IGG, Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema, State House Anti-Corruption Unit and all the media houses in Uganda.
Days ago, seven people identifying themselves as ‘taxpayers and concerned citizens’ wrote to Kitaka to vacate office citing the expiry of his acting tenure he holds after the former ED Jennifer Musisi Semakula resigned in mid-December 2018.
In their November 21, 2019 notice, the applicants say Kitaka has continued to execute the duties of executive director for the past eleven months in acting capacity contrary to Public Service Standing Orders, which provides for only six months.
It states that “An appointment on acting basis is expected to last not more than six months, and is subject to direction by the appointing authority. Any period of acting appointment beyond six months will be null and void and the officer holding such an appointment shall automatically revert to his or her substantive post, unless the appointing authority extends the appointment for another period of six months, but shall not exceed 12 months in total. This arrangement will only apply when a statutory office is temporarily vacated.”
They also refer to Section 17 of the KCCA Act of 2010, which provides for the appointment of the executive director and mandate, which includes execution of duties of the authority and at the same time being the accounting officer. They contend that the responsibilities are enormous, arguing that one is likely to cause loss to the authority as well as the taxpayers once they execute the roles in an acting capacity.
“We further notify you that acting appointments as done in public service do not apply indefinitely and any such act is illegal and unlawful,” reads the notice in part.
“Provide an inventory of all contracts, expenditures and any related activities done in your ‘acting’ capacity”, the notice reads.
Recently, KCCA councillors chased Kitaka from a council meeting, citing a letter written by the chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Justice Ralph Ochan reminding minister of Kampala Beti Kamya that Kitaka’s tenure in ‘acting’ capacity had ended and it would most likely be challenged in court.
