Members of Parliament have adopted a recommendation by the House’s select committee, directing the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi to resign with immediate effect on account of abuse of office.

The select committee, chaired by Mbarara South Division Member of Parliament ,Mwine Mpaka investigated the alleged mismanagement of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and found that the minister’s actions in directing Shs6 billion to be availed to her ministry were irregular. 

The report, presented during plenary sitting on Wednesday, 01 March 2023 added that President Museveni should take keen interest in the conduct of the minister.

The report was adopted on Thursday, March 9, 2023 during plenary sitting chaired by Speaker, Anita Among.

The MPs said that the minister’s actions contravened the NSSF Act.

Aisha Kabanda (NUP, Butambala District) wondered how the minister was going to account for the Shs6 billion and yet according to the NSSF Act, she supervises the fund.

“Were you going to account for the Shs6 billion with your juniors,” asked Kabanda.

Theodore Ssekikubo (NRM, Lwemiyaga County) said that Parliament’s task is to prove beyond reasonable doubt if the minister was right or wrong to request for the money.

“Parliament must rise to the occasion. The minister said she performed her statutory duties in approving the budget but in her letter, she said that she received a budget proposal of Shs15 billion and she said that that out of Shs15 billion, can I have Shs6 billion for expanding the fund,” said Ssekikubo.

Dokolo District Woman Representative, Cecilia Ogwal urged her counterparts to make a decision based on the Public Finance Management Act which clearly stipulates budget initiation and implementation.

“There is a difference between originating and implementation. We should be clear on who initiates the budget so that nobody is seen as being victimised,” Cecilia Ogwal said.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga said that the minister does not have the power to appropriate funds. 

“She is conveniently expanding the interpretation of the NSSF Act. Why did you think you can borrow the word appropriation to use the money for government work? NSSF funds are for private people who are saving their little money for a rainy day,” said Mpuuga.

He added that, ’we must clean this house [NSSF], we must give assurance and hope to the citizens. This entity has become over the years some people’s daily income’.

The Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (General Duties), Henry Musasizi said that the request of the Shs6 billion was not approved by the Ministry of Finance.

“It came to our attention and we notified the minister [Amongi]. We held a meeting with her, gave her our opinion and we were against her request but she went ahead with her request,” Musasizi said.

Amongi however, said that she cannot resign based on a falsehood by the report and she maintained that the request of Shs6 billion was within the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Act.

“I have been condemned without evidence, facts and reference to points of the law. In Fact I am being victimised yet I am the whistle-blower,” she said.

Amongi explained that her letter directing the appropriation of Shs6 billion was in exercise of ministerial power under Section 29 of the NSSF Act which gives her power to amend the budget.

“Activities of the Shs6 billion do not fall under the Ministry of Gender and I want to state that the new law introduced mid-term access and the law permits me to issue regulations for voluntary savings. I am required to carry out stakeholder engagements and I cannot do that alone,” she added.

Mwine Mpaka said that every recommendation in the report is backed by evidence.

“We believe we did this job to the best of our knowledge and we can defend all the recommendations,” said Mwine Mpaka.

MPs further agreed that the NSSF Board should be dissolved as recommended by the committee.

The House further adopted a recommendation that 24 board members who illegally received the 10 per cent contribution from NSSF should refund the money within seven working days after adoption of the report or face prosecution.

On January 19, 2023, the House resolved to institute a committee to inquire into the operations of NSSF, following reports of corruption and mismanagement of the Shs17.9 trillion fund.  

Lawmakers have adopted a recommendation by the House’s select committee, directing the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi to resign with immediate effect on account of abuse of office.

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Karamoja Affairs Minister Mary Goretti Kitutu is set to be charged with abuse of office, Eagle Online can reliably report.

According to a source, Dr Kitutu’s matter has been taken over by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) and soon she will be arrested and charged.

Earlier this month, Kitutu confessed to diverting 3000 iron sheets that were meant for the unprivileged people in Karamoja.

Appearing before the Presidential Affairs Committee of Parliament Kitutu accepted responsibility for the mismanagement of iron sheets procured for the vulnerable in the sub-region.

“Some of the iron sheets were used to roof a boys’ dormitory in Situmi Primary School, Namisindwa district. The school lacked a store, hence storing them at a relative’s house,” she said.

She apologized to the committee and parliament noting that she was never guided about the project. Kitutu requested for 12,200 iron sheets to aid her in community mobilization and peace-building missions in Karamoja.

Her January 12, 2023, internal memo to the stores’ department at the OPM read in part, “During community mobilization and peace-building missions, I usually meet vulnerable groups and karuchunas (reformed warriors) who are willing to dissociate themselves from rustling. As part of my intervention, I will be distributing iron sheets to such special vulnerable groups.”

Last month, security operatives nabbed Cotilda Kitutu, Michael Nabwaya, and Julius Wabule. The accused are the mother, brother, and nephew of Minister Kitutu. The three were allegedly selling OPM-branded iron sheets to residents of Namisindwa district, in eastern Uganda.

Kitutu is among the top ministers who benefited from the iron sheets which were allegedly meant for people in Karamoja. The ministers involved in the scandal include; Rebecca Kadaga, Jacob Oboth Oboth, Hamson Obua, Amos Lugolobi, Matia Kasaija and others.

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will next week address the Parliament on matters of National Importance. The address has been confirmed by Anita Annet Among who said the Museveni’s address will be premised on matters of National Importance.

Museveni’s address comes at a time when the house is processing the contagious Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023 which seeks to criminalise same-sex relationships with a liability of imprisonment of two to 10 years for homosexuality, aggravated homosexuality, attempted homosexuality, aiding and abetting homosexuality, conspiracy to commit homosexuality and other related practices.

“I want to report that pursuant to Article 101 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will be coming to address the House on Thursday, March 16, 2023. I urge all of you to be in the House that day to hear what the President says on what we can do to change our economy and society,” She said during the plenary.

Museveni last addressed parliament in June last 2022 at Kololo ceremonial grounds. The Speaker Anitah Among started by making her communication to mark the official opening of the 2nd Session of the 11th Parliament.

This was after the swearing-in of new Member of Parliament Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, who replaced his dad, former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, the former Speaker of the Parliament, who died on March 20, 2022 in Seattle, Washington State.

During his address, Museveni pledged that the country will process coffee, oil and iron in a bid to boost revenue collection instead of exporting the commodities for peanuts.

He promised to engage parliament that is opposing the government’s plan to process coffee in a deal with Uganda Vinci Coffee Company. The president said he is the one who was interested in the company in coffee after he realized how much the country was losing from exporting raw coffee.

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