By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
Opposition Democratic Party (DP) has expressed mistrust in the select committee that has been investigating the alleged corruption, abuse of office within the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Ismail Kiirya, the UYD president says that parliament should have used the authoriltative committee of parliament on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to carry out the investigations on the board officials.
During plenary sitting on 25th January, 2023, the deputy Speaker of parliament, Thomas Tayebwa named a seven man committee chaired by the Mbarara south MP, Hon. Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama to investigate operations and management of the NSSF. The committee was mandated to examine among other terms of reference; corporate governance structures at the NSSF, circumstances surrounding appointment of the fund’s director, evaluate status and safety of saver’s money in the fund and examine the extent of of stakeholder engagement in decision making in the fund.
This was after reports of alleged mismanagement of the Shs17.9 trillion fund and controversies that resolved around the reappointment of the then Managing Director, Richard Byarugaba who had clocked the mandatory age of 60 and already served two terms. The investigations also involved two ministers of finance and gender who are the fund’s immediate supervisors.
The committee further received a submission from a whistleblower, Job Richard Matua who reported that the the fund was misusing money for savers on private activities. The committee on Sunday retreated to write the report on the findings of the inquiry that had the two ministers responsible for the fund interrogated, the board and the management.
However, the UYD president is doubts the transparence and interests of the committee which he says won’t get the real problem in this matter since they will be following the directives of the speaker.
DP further appeals to government to intervene in the matter and find appropriate solutions to the challenges faced by the fund.
On Monday, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) deputy spokesperson John Kikonyogo said that parliament is treating discussion of financial reports as a trend and means of show bizz.
He contests that a different approach other than reading and receiving of reports on the floor of parliament should be used to give biting solutions to offices causing losses to Ugandans.
