The Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) has sounded the alarm over missing funds totaling a staggering Shs39 billion, earmarked for tea nursery bed operators in the Kigezi region.
Lawyer Patrick Kiconco Katabaazi, a partner at Pathways Advocates, has been summoned to answer for the unaccounted funds.
The COSASE action comes on the heels of a crucial meeting with Samuel Mugasi, the Executive Director of the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), on August 10, 2023. The committee is leaving no stone unturned as it pores over the Auditor General’s report scrutinizing NAADS’ financial statements for the year 2021/2022.
However, in a curious twist, Kiconco sent his associate, Asiimwe Mugumya, to face the music on his behalf before COSASE. The committee was having none of it, rejecting this delegation and demanding Kiconco’s presence himself.
The Auditor General’s report highlights that NAADS had pumped a substantial Shs39 billion into Pathways Advocates with the explicit purpose of compensating tea nursery operators. These operators had previously taken legal action against the government for failing to deliver on seedling procurement promises.
A cloud of suspicion descended when it was revealed that despite the large sum disbursed in two chunks (Shs27 billion and Shs12 billion), some beneficiaries claimed they hadn’t received a cent.
The Committee’s lead Counsel, Hon. Ronald Ndyomugenyi, minced no words. While NAADS had paper trails of the funds transfer, the question of who received what remained unanswered, leaving the matter far from resolved.
In a resounding move, COSASE summoned Kiconco to face the music on August 15, 2023.
Hon. Lucy Akello, Vice Chairperson of the Committee, issued a stern call for Kiconco’s appearance, demanding he come armed with comprehensive lists detailing beneficiaries, bank specifics, received sums, and National Identification Numbers.
This summons underlines COSASE’s commitment to unraveling the mystery behind the missing funds and ensuring that accountability is upheld. As the saga unfolds, the spotlight remains fixed on the elusive Shs39 billion and the trail it has left in its wake