The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) is set to conduct an independent investigation into the utilisation of  Shs9.6 Billion allocated for the purpose of ‘coffee consumption’.

“We want to know who disbursed that money and who benefited from it. We need that money and the person who benefitted from it must bear the liability,” Speaker Anita Among said during the plenary sitting on Thursday, 07 September 2023.

It is premised on a report by the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) on concerns raised by the Auditor General for Financial Year 2021/2022, on 15 MDAs.

The report presented by Committee Chairperson, Hon. Medard Sseggona, indicates that as part of NUSAF-III programme, OPM signed a two year memorandum of understanding with M/S Inspire Africa Uganda Limited as a capacity building partner.

The programme that ran from 16 May 2017 to 15 May 2019 was extended for another two years up to 31 March 2021, a period in which Inspire Africa was allocated Shs9.66 billion for its activities.

“The Committee takes exception that Shs9.66 billion had been invested in a project that was not well thought out, with Shs1.9 billion being paid for coffee consumption,” reads the report.

Sseggona said spending on teaching coffee consumption was a nugatory expenditure, adding that coffee shops supposed to be set up in Arua, Mbale, Lira and Tororo were non-existent or non-operational.

“When a team of CIDs visited Malaba, they established that the coffee shop did not take long in operation because Inspire Africa never involved the trained youth. Arua did not raise the 150 youth for training,” further reads the report.

The Committee recommended forensic investigation by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) and other arms of Government.

“If found wanting, the Accounting Officer and Project Director for NUSAF-III project should be prosecuted for any loss of funds. A recovery mechanism should be instituted within six months of adoption of this report,” Sseggona said.

Hon. Betty Aol Ocan (FDC, Gulu City) said that much as the coffee shop in Gulu had been operational, it had closed.

“The shop was closed because Inspire Africa failed to pay rent. It was meant to be a youth project and it was run for close to three years,” said Aol Ocan.

Hon. Yusuf Mutembuli (NRM, Bunyole East) said he had consumed coffee from the Inspire Africa coffee shop in Mbale, but it did not meet its intended purpose of ‘coffee consumption’.

“Nobody came to tell me how to take coffee when I was there. If they gave money for the purpose of teaching people how to make coffee, then I did not benefit from it,” Mutembuli said.

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Matthias Mpuuga urged the House to take stricter care in monitoring social empowerment programmes.

“It is an invitation to the House that whenever such programmes are brought here for funding, we should undertake elaborate scrutiny on how the common person will benefit,” said Mpuuga.

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A few Ministers have revealed that huge workload on their desks and traffic jams compel them to arrive late for the plenary sittings.
Their concerns have risen following the Speaker’s decision to adjourn the session pre-maturely yesterday having noticed that eighty two (82) ministers were absent.
Huda Abason Oleru, the State Minister for Veteran Affairs, blamed her late arrival for plenary sitting, on the huge workload on her desk, saying this compels Ministers to arrive late for plenary sittings.
“The challenge we are finding is to balance between being in the Parliament and also handling the ministerial issues. So, it is just not deliberate that we are late. I am sorry that the House has been adjourned. We shall do our best to improve,” Minister Oleru.
Rukia Nakadama, Third Deputy Prime Minister apologized for the late coming of the Ministers, attributing it to the huge workload and promised improvement in time management by the Ministers.
“The ministers have too much work which normally forces them to come late but late coming is not intentionally done,” Nakadama said.
She added, “The ministers normally come just minutes after plenary has started. I had reached two minutes after the House had started and then the Speaker adjourned the House. I believe they will be improving. We shall also keep informing the Ministers about that issue of late coming.”
Vincent Ssempijja, Minister of Defence & Veteran Affairs, attributed his late arrival for yesterday’s plenary sitting on the thick traffic jam & road works on Jinja Road,  saying it took him over 1hour to travel from Mbuya to Parliament, despite having the UPDF sirens & lead car to make way for him.
However, Rule 114 of the Rules of Procedure requires Ministers to attend Sittings of the House and where one is unable to attend, he or she shall request another Minister to represent that Ministry’s interests in the House and notify the Speaker accordingly.
Speaker Among has said the failure of some Ministers to regularly attend and participate in House Business is an abdication of responsibility and a breach of Public trust.
“The leadership responsibilities that we hold are in public trust and we should therefore work for the common good,” Among guided.
She added, “The absence of Ministers from the House impedes the efficiency and effectiveness of the Legislature, and by implication, Government as a whole.”

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