INQUIRY: DR. Musenero Quizzed Over Loss Of UGX5.2B Tax Payer’s Money

By ROBERT KAMUKAMA

KAMPALA, Uganda [SHIFTMEDIA] The quest to ascertain the mismanagement of COVID-19 funds rages on in Parliament.

Parliament Public Accounts Committee is leading the front to ascertain the truth and hold those liable accountable as highlighted in the Auditor General’s forensic audit report. Earlier this week, the fiery committee quizzed the minister for Science and Technology Dr. Monica Musenero over machines that were procured to facilitate research and development of COVID-19 vaccines that have never been utilized.

Hon Frederick Angura, MP Tororo South articulates the procurement was to serve a very significant purpose at that time but unfortunately, they have not served the purpose, he instructed the minister to admit that the machines have not served the purpose.

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Hon Sarah Opendi the Woman Member of Parliament for Tororo assured Musenero of being at the forefront in guiding the President through the vaccine process.

She further questioned the minister if she was not aware that she didn’t have land at the time she went ahead to procure the machines.

“By the time you go to procure the equipment, you must be aware that you have all the requirements, even where to place this equipment,” said Opendi.

The committee members questioned Musenero on how the minister failed to put into use machines that cost the government UGX5.2 billion.

Musenero explained that the machine was not utilized because they failed to secure a suitable building to install it in after the available buildings were found unfit for the purpose.

Hon Angura further ascertained that the obtainable documents indicate that all the available machines had arrived on 2nd November 2021 which means by the time of the machine’s arrival, the minister was prepared to utilize it and above all, the warranty period for the machine was to end on the 2nd of November.

The legislator noted that no one can guarantee that the machines whose warranty already expired can serve their purpose.

Hon Nandala Mafabi, Member of Parliament for Budadiri West compared the scenario to buying a plan without a landing ground for it.

Auditor Generals Report

The Auditor General’s report also noted that the Minister for Science procured 4 Centrifuge at UGX110Million for COVID-19 scientists at Makerere for anti-body diagnostic test kits but this equipment cannot be traced.

Hon. Mafabi noted that according to the report, the Centrifuge was lost and never on the assets register.

The MPs also questioned where the minister got the mandate to reallocate the Ministry’s funds towards the rehabilitation of the laboratory at Makerere University without the approval of the permanent secretary.

Despite the government Investing over UGX31 Billion shillings in COVID-19 research, little progress has been made in Vaccine development.

In the Financial Year 2019/2020, MoSTI had approved a budget of Shs10b for innovation, out of which Shs5.3b was reallocated by the ministry to Covid-19 expenditure.

The MoSTI has since been abolished and staff placed under the Office of the President.