Member of Parliament for Butambala County, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, has raised concerns about the credibility of the Auditor General’s accountability reports, stating that they are inadequate.
Kivumbi expressed these reservations upon assuming leadership of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). In a firm address, he warned committee members against seeking bribes from government entities undergoing scrutiny.
Taking over from Busiro East MP Medard Lubega Sseggona, who identified underfunding as a major challenge during his two-and-a-half-year term, Kivumbi acknowledged the impact of budget cuts on the committee’s effectiveness.
“The budget cuts affecting the country also impacted this committee. A significant part of our responsibility involves overseeing embassies abroad, where our performance has been subpar,” he remarked.
Kivumbi also voiced concerns about constitutional restrictions limiting the committee’s accountability cycle to six months. Sseggona urged the new leadership to adopt a more stringent approach to corruption, recognizing its evolving sophistication.
Promising to prioritize the scrutiny of the Ministry of Finance, with a focus on escalating public debt and tax exemptions, Kivumbi sternly cautioned PAC members against succumbing to bribery.
“I have instructed the clerk to notify all agencies that anyone claiming to represent the committee must contact me first. I will eradicate that culture from the outset. If it has existed, whoever engaged in it, I am Muwanga Kivumbi.”
Goretti Namugga will serve as Kivumbi’s deputy. PAC’s responsibilities encompass reviewing the accounts of public ministries, universities, hospitals, and directorates.
Kivumbi also outlined his intention to address key issues such as debts, tax exemptions, service delivery in referral hospitals, and a focused examination of the Ministry of Education.
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