Corruption is undoubtedly the top most vice of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government. This vice is older than the NRM government itself. The embezzlement of the 68 billion shillings meant for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the war-ravaged Luweero Triangle was the biggest swindle of any project in Uganda’s history. The scam was also the first under the NRM regime which involved billions of shillings. The funds were solicited by the Office of the Prime Minister then under Dr. Samson Kisekka from well-wishers in Uganda and abroad between 1986 and 1988. This scam was just the beginning. Since 1986, the NRM government has been caught up in one scandal after another. For 34 years, almost every year there is a huge scam involving a government employee. It normally involves either a Minister, Permanent Secretary, Director, a Military Commander or a district leader.
Luweero Triangle Foundation funds swindled
When the bush war ended in January 1986, Ugandans, and in particular the survivors of the bush war in Luweero, breathed a sigh of relief. They and the rest of the country hoped for a special program to help in the rehabilitation and development of the area which had been torn apart by five years of armed struggle between the National Resistance Army rebels, commanded by Yoweri Museveni, and the Uganda government forces. During the war, Museveni had promised the people in Luweero who supported the war that they would be compensated for the loss of their properties and that their area would be rehabilitated and developed. Expectations were high. On January 27, 1986, Dr. Samson Kisekka officially launched the Luweero Fund in Luweero district. The launch was conducted even before the NRM government was sworn-in in Kampala. If the funds had not been swindled, perhaps Luweero would have boasted some modern developments to actually earn the name ‘Mecca’ – the name which the President likes to bestow upon the region for its critical role in his ascent to power. Instead, Luweero district is one of the more underdeveloped areas of the country.
Museveni vows to fight corruption
Before Museveni became the President of Uganda, he had vowed to up root corruption in Uganda. When he was the Vice Chairman of the Military Commission and Minister of Defence in 1979-1980, he had also vowed to stamp out corruption in Uganda. The Uganda Times newspaper of June 24, 1980 quotes Museveni promising to fight what he called “thieves”. He said, “We shall not nationalise people’s property, but we shall not tolerate thieves”. But immediately after he became President, thieves started thriving under his nose. In his fourth year of power he said, “Corruption is a cancer which, if it is not checked, will hinder progress in all sectors of society. Negligence and corruption, coupled with wrong methods of work, are a lethal combination indeed”. Museveni made the statement while addressing the National Resistance Council on April 30, 1990.
Who swindled the Luweero funds?
After a long wait for any sign of progress, the people in Luweero started questioning the government about what happened to the funds. Vice President Dr. Samson Kisekka was blamed and accused of misappropriation. For many years he avoided responding to the allegations.
In 1994, the Monitor newspaper had an exclusive interview with Dr. Kisekka. When asked about the allegations pinned on him about embezzling the Luweero funds, he denied it. His response: “You see when I left being Prime Minister [and became Vice President] all these things were handed over to Abu Mayanja [third Deputy Prime Minister and Attorney General]. I do not know what happened afterwards”, the Monitor newspaper of March- 04-08, 1994 quotes Kisekka as having said. Kisekka admitted that while he was the brainchild of the Luweero Triangle Foundation, he did not know what happened to the funds. He also said that he did not know what happened to the tractors, vehicles, motorcycles and other equipment that was donated to the foundation.
Committee of inquiry
When the public outcry persisted, President Museveni instituted in 1994 a Committee of Inquiry into Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Project (Luwero Triangle) to ascertain the legal status and administrative structure of the funds. The Committee investigated how much was collected in the form of cash and materials and by who. The Committee was composed of Solicitor General Peter Kabatsi, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, Chris Kassami, Principal auditor in the Auditor General’s office, Joseph Ewama Lemai and Assistant Commissioner in the Inspector General of Government’s office Mathias Tumwesigye. The Committee was also to ascertain whether or not the intended beneficiaries received these donations. The report states that the exact legal status of the funds was not handled in accordance with the law.
“The handling of and the use of Luwero Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Fund then under the Prime Minister Office was done in total violation of the Public Finance Act and other rules and procedures currently governing the handling of the public fund” The 34-page report reads. The report was scrutinised by the cabinet at State House, but has been made public. [SK1]
[SK1]Is this supposed to mean “never” made public?
