Minister Kasaija Badly Wanted Over 10.6 Billions Controversially Spent

 

Reporter:

The Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises - COSASE has summoned the finance minister, Hon. Matia Kasaija, for snubbing the committee probe twice.

COSASE is probing the Shs10.6 billion supplementary payment to six landowners in Bunyoro and Buganda regions. Among the six landowners is the Lusanja land in Kyadondo belonging to Medard Kiconco and the Ndeeba Church land belonging to Ephraim Enterprises.

However, the committee seeks to investigate why only six people out of the many received compensation, and yet some of the people who were left out had overstayed on the compensation list.

The committee is also querying the origin of the supplementary as the Uganda Land Commission says it was not consulted by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development who asked for the supplementary of Shs10 billion.

On Thursday, 26 May 2022, the committee led by its chairperson, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi was examining the Auditor General’s Report for Financial Year 2020/2021 and sought to find out from the finance minister about the process of releasing the supplementary, but he was no show.

Kasaija was first invited to appear before the committee on Tuesday, 17 May 2022 last week. He wrote back to the committee requesting for rescheduling to Thursday, the 26th, saying he was engaged with State duties.

Ssenyonyi said that the committee decided to summon the minister who did not appear and without any communication, for now, the second time. He says the minister is not above the law.