Uganda’s 60 Billion Shillings Scandal: Questions Linger Over CID’s Handling of Investigation.

The ongoing investigation into the disappearance of 60 billion shillings from the Ugandan treasury has raised more questions than answers, with many observers pointing to a selective and hurried approach by the police’s Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID). At the center of the storm is Lawrence Ssemakula, the Accountant General, who has been languishing in Luzira prison alongside other finance ministry officials.

As the investigation unfolds, it has become apparent that Ssemakula had relinquished his role as Accounting Officer for Treasury Operations, the very department from which the funds went missing. This has led many to wonder how he could be held accountable for a function that was no longer under his direct jurisdiction.

Further inconsistencies have emerged, including the disappearance of a memo from Ssemakula to the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, which could have shed more light on the events leading up to the disappearance of the funds. The memo, which is believed to have been sent through the finance ministry’s emailing system, ISN, has mysteriously vanished, fueling speculation about a possible cover-up.

The ISN system itself has been found to have been compromised, with its license having expired without being renewed. The responsible officer, Dr. Ddamulira Ssengonzi, the Under Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, has not been summoned by the police to make a statement, despite his potential culpability in the matter.

Other curious omissions have been noted, including the switching off of CCTV cameras at the treasury department on the day of the transaction, and the failure of police investigators to pursue this line of inquiry. The Bank of Uganda’s (BoU) emailing system was also hacked into, enabling the sending of fake emails to officials at the Accountant General’s office. However, no one from the BoU has been questioned or detained in connection with the scandal.

As the investigation continues, many are left wondering whether the CID is being selective in its pursuit of justice, and whether some powerful officials are being shielded from accountability. The rushed appointment of Commissioner Godfrey Ssemugooma, as the acting Accountant General has also raised eyebrows, with some speculating that it may be part of a larger effort to undermine Ssemakula’s reputation and bring an end to his distinguished public service career.