Adjumani, (UG):- The Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Mr Ben Kumumanya has said there are no reasonable grounds for instituting legal action against him on account of inbreeding corruption in Adjumani district because he has never shielded or acted as godfather to any public officer from any administrative and legal action.
Speaking to DailyExpress in a long telephone conversation on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, Mr Kumumanya downrightly and equivocally denied and rebutted the contents in the news article published by this same publication on September 24, 2024, headlined: Adjumani Contractors Vow to Drag Ministry of local government PS to court over Corruption.
The ostensibly upset Kumumanya said; ”Ever since I joined government service, I have never developed an appetite for public funds, besides I have not once been reprimanded over issues of accountability and it is the first time a media house portrays me in a bad light before the right-thinking persons of the society”.
“Am quite aware of the complaints of the business tycoons in Adjumani under their umbrella Adjumani District Contractors’ Association (ADCA) relating to the DRDIP tax fraud amounting to shs 1.8b. It is on record I have taken action but the report filled to my office by a team of inspectors that investigated the matter in May is insufficient and off the expectations that is why I have dispatched another team who are currently in Adjumani digging for facts”. Mr. Kumumanya asserted.
The PS said his office is already determining the matter but in a professional manner and the culprits will be brought to book and redress for any loss will be handled in line with article 164(2) of the constitution and other laws and regulations.
On the transfer of the embattled CAO Mr Oryono Grandfield to Butaleja district, Kumumanya said the transfer is not intended to shield him from possible administrative action or legal redress but it is a normal administrative procedure as investigations into the matter endure short of meddling and intrusion.
He said instead of delving into my enormous efforts in curtailing corruption the media is expounding on a single case scenario in Adjumani when it’s on record that on September 20, 2024, my office issued guidance on how to handle corruption issues in the recruitment process in local governments after loud protests from every part of Uganda.
“In my circular Dated August 22, 2024, addressed to all chief administrative officers, town clerks-cities and municipalities I have instructed them to institute disciplinary actions on parish chiefs, town agents and other public servants involved in extortion and bribery malpractices in the disbursement of PDM funds”.PS Kumumanya specified.
He appealed to the members of ADCA to exercise patience and restraint because he doesn’t have any conflict of attention in managing their grievance and he has never acted as godfather to CAO Mr Oryono in any way and highlighted the delays in resolving their matter was caused by the quality of report of the investigations team he deployed to investigate the tax scandal in May 2024.
The chairman of Adjumani Contractors’ Association, Mr. Fadul Yusuf Abdul however insists that after taking the matter to the office of Prime Minister Nabanja Robina in May 2024, PS Kumumanya has been assigned to resolve the complaints but it was very difficult accessing PS Kumumanya.
“PS Kumumanya must be aware that usually when corrupt government officers fail to resolve issues of wanainchi(populace) violence follows as a last resort option but for the ADCA we have opted for legal redress,” Mr Fadul insists.
The matter of the DRDIP Withholding Tax (WHT) fraud worth shs 1.8bn, was first brought to the attention of CAO Mr Oryono on April 6, 2024, but it was out rightly rubbished and the contractors were instead threatened with court action over contestations of maligning CAO Oryono until the matter was conveyed to PM Nabanja.
When the matter was assigned to the office of the PS Kumumanya according to the aggrieved contractors the progress reduced at a slow snail speed as the PS reportedly kept the report in his drawer under lock and key.
The contractors are however willing to give the PS and his officials a second chance to have the matter resolved on terms favourable to all parties involved in the conflict, otherwise, the disgruntled businessmen are not willing to allow their cash to be swindled by immoral government workers unabated since they (public servants) have the directive to protect the interests of the public.
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