EXCLUSIVE LEAK: A deeply strategised corruption scandal at the National Agricultural Advisory Services in which Shillings 15bn in taxpayers money was lost has left ministers Robinah Nabbanja and Matia Kasaijja shamefully exposed.
In inquest into the Auditor General’s report by MPs on the Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASSE) which implicated NAADS in a suspicious 15bn shs deal for the clearance of bushes for the Atiak sugar factory found both the Prime Minister and her Ministry of Health counterpart culpable for the loss of public funds in the deal.
The two are jointly accused of ordering g NAADS to award Horyal Company the contract for the clearing of bushes to sugar cane for the Atiak the Sugar factory the government jointly owns with a private investor with a minority 40% shareholding.
The August 9 probe focused mainly on the nature of the procurement process under which Haryal was awarded the multi billion deal, and the exorbitant fee indicated.
Eunice Katto, the Head of Procurement at NAADS defended the contract, insisting that because it was a rainy season, opening bidding would have taken a lot of time and besides, the company had an MOU with women groups to provide labour.
But MP Ronald Ndyomugyenyi was not going to take Katto’s explanations as he insisted rain alone was not sufficient reason for the officials to violate rules under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act which provides for open bidding for a deal of such an amount.
Ndyomugyenyi asked: “Are those the reasons you can give for a direct procurement? What are the conditions in the PPDA Act for direct procurements?”
Bumali Mpindi, the Independent MP representing Persons with Disabilities, questioned the amount of money spent on bush clearing.
Mpindi asked: “What kind of bush clearing is this? Is it different from others? Why didn’t you subject it to bidding to allow other companies to participate? Your justification for direct procurement is lacking.”
ED exposes Kasaijja and Nabbanja
When NAADS ED
Hell broke loose when ED Mugasi picked the microphone, telling the committee the fraudulent contract was awarded on orders from above. He said that Minister Kasaija had issued a dossier instructing them to award Horyal the contract and disburse to it the money for to complete the second phase of the outgrowers scheme without asking any questions.
Earlier, PM Nabbanja had authored a letter to the Authority directing them to work with Horyal company. This, Nabbanja did through two letters according to Mugasi.
“The first letter was from the Prime Minister requesting us to work with Horyal and then another one in 2018, which talks about financing of sugar cane project,” Mugasi submitted.
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