The ghosts baying for the blood of the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) are yet to rest in their banished graves, as reports reveal the sacking of members of the board at the investment body.
We have since learnt that the finance Minister Matia Kasaija dissolved the UIA board last week, and that no tangible explanation for the move was given, which has allowed speculation to flourish.
While some pundits blame the move on Evelyn Anite, the state minister for investment, whom they said was out to settle old scores with the UIA Director General, others said President Yoweri Museveni was not happy about the performance of the board.
They blame this on Mukiza’s outbursts where he earlier on revealed the underlying tensions as having stemmed from disagreements over honorarium and price variation payments for the Kampala Industrial and Business Park (KIBP) infrastructure development project at Namanve.
Anite has issued an ultimatum for top officials at the agency to refund honorarium payments totaling Sh545m received as honorarium payments.
Mukiza himself received Sh82m, Dr Paul Kyalimpa Sh58m, Patience Kyabaje Sh43m, John Bwambale Sh43m, Amina Nassaka Sh17m, Susanne Akware Sh7m, Joanita Kambedhe Sh8m, Muzamil Mwanga Sh5m, and Augustine Katale Sh5m.
Evelyn Anite, speaking at a recent Investment Forum
Other members of the project management team (PMT), such as Alex Nuwagira, received Sh92m, Felix Tumukunde Beinemaryo Sh55m, Emmanuel Muhumuza Sh49m, William Sande Sh36m, and Dominic Mugesera Sh30m.
This money was paid out of the €219,482,727.15 (approximately Shs 871 billion) that the Ugandan government secured from the UK Export Finance (UKEF) on December 4, 2019, for the Kampala Industrial and Business Park (KIBP) infrastructure development project.
The honorarium was interpreted by Anite as corruption, and she gave the recipients 24 hours from June 12 to refund the money. However, Mukiza and his team declined to refund the money, arguing that it was legally paid to them for extra work done on the project, as approved by the board.
HAMMER DROPS
The hammer has finally dropped, severing the lives of some big shots at the agency.
The sacked members include Morrison Rwakakamba (Board Chairperson), Dr. Joshua Mutambi, Beatrice Mpairwe, Neima Ombambosa, lzama Angelo Opi-Aiya, Getrude Kateesa Lutaaya and Godfrey Byamukama Kereere.
This news channel has since learnt that Mukiza is faced with a myriad of accusations which range from tribalism, mismanagement, corruption, favouritism among others.
As the board has been shown the exit, Mukiza’s fate now hangs in a balance. He could only be saved from this precarious state by the appointing authority, who is President Museveni
