Anti-Corruption Presidency

PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT BY. HON KIBANZANGA CHRISTOPHER (FDC), MP. BUSONGORA SOUTH


BACKGROUND OF THE STATEMENT

Mr. Speakers Sir, in all the world democracies it's generally acceptable that the management of the state is a partnership between the ruling party and those in the opposition like FDC. Those in opposition have the duty to advise, objectively criticize and provide alternative policies and programs.

It's my honour therefore to present the alternative voice, programs and raise concerns in Reference to the ministerial Budget policy statement in charge of presidency.

1.1 Mission Statement
Mr. Speaker and honourable members the current vision for this ministry is "to provide technical and administrative support to H.E the President and the Vice President in implementing "their" vision and policies."

Mr. Speaker and honourable members, we are not here to provide resources to people to implement personal visions and policies.

Recommendations.
The vision of the department should read, "To provide technical and administrative support H.E the President and the Vice President in implementing the national vision and policies''.

Justification
The reason why these policy statements come here is that we debate them as a country and adopt them so as to become national policies. We are disappointed that the country has never been given an opportunity to discuss and adopt a national vision.

We request the 3rd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of information and National guidance to speed up the process of debating the national vision of "Harmonious country United nation and prosperous people."

1.2 Strategic Objective
Mr. Speaker Sir, we agree with the ministerial objectives save for (g) and (I).

(g) The strategic objective reads "to ensure the well being functioning and security of the Presidency and their families in an atmosphere of dignity and comfort.

Clarification
If a country provides "dignity" and "comfort" to the families of the Presidency, then who shall provide dignity and comfort to the rest of Ugandans?
Recommendations
Mr. Speaker and honourable members the strategic objective should read, "to ensure the well being functioning and security of the presidency and their immediate family members." Here Mr. Speaker we have to drop the terms "dignity, "comfort' and "their families".

Justification
The terms "their families; are open to abuse. In African Context you will never tell how many are they and therefore the amount of resources they need.

The terms 'dignity' and 'comfort'; are demoralizing to the rest of the citizens who are living the lives of under dogs. In any case who is supposed to provide dignity and comfort to the rest of the people?

(i) The strategic objective (1) to coordinate all agencies fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Recommendations
Mr. Speaker Sir and honourable members the strategic objective of coordinating all agencies fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic should be the function of the ministry of health since it's a healthy related matter. This coordination should be taken back to the ministry of Health. Justification

HIV/AIDS pandemic being a healthy related problem needs technical competent healthy workers to coordinate all agencies supervised by the Ministry of Health.

1.3 Organization and functions of the presidency.

1.3.1. Department of finance and Administration.
Mr. Speaker and honourable members whereas we agree with some functions of the department as provided for in the ministerial statement, we also disagree with others like.

1.3.1.1 Position of RDCs.
Mr. Speaker Sir and honourable members; on pages 5 under Bulletin 3 and 4 which reads as follows "ensure an update information on the human resource strength position and deposition of RDC's and DRDC's and to ensure appropriate logistical support to RDC's and DRDC's subject to availability of resources". We are opposed to the existence of the offices with their operational and administrative cost. Recommendation

We propose that the position of RDC's be revisited with the view of scrapping off their department. Their monitoring and evaluation duties should be put under the District chairpersons and their security roles be put under security organizations.

Justifications.
Maintaining RDC's and DRDC's is the duplication of services already provided by LCV hairpersons and District security officer (DSO) thus no relevance to maintain RDCs. This will reduce the administrative costs and operational requirements of 77 RDC's and 38 DRDC's.

1.3.1.2 Presidential Advisors

On page 7, the Minister informs us that the department of finance under The Presidency continues to facilitate at a bare minimum the 60 presidential advisors and unspecified number of presidential Assistants who are not included in the formal structure in their two categories both full time and on retainer.

Recommendation
Mr. Speaker Sir and honourable members, Uganda as a developing country is too poor to maintain such big number of Presidential advisors and special presidential Assistants.

We understand that there is no president in Africa who can work effectively without assistants however the specific number of Presidential Assistants should be kept as follows.

We propose that the President keeps only four Presidential Assistants and ten presidential advisors as follows;

i) Advisor in charge of economic monitoring and performance
ii) Foreign Affairs and International relations
iii) Defence and security
iv) Good governance
v) Culture, Gender and Social Development
vi) Agriculture
vii) Physical planning and urban development
viii) Health, environment and science
ix) Media information & technology
x) Constitutional Affairs.


1.4 Directorate of Ethics and Integrity

Observation
Mr. Speaker Sir, honourable members of Parliament some of the functions of the directorate are;
To coordinate an effective anti corruption campaign, receive, follow up and ensure enforcement and implementation of recommendations made by the commissions of inquiry, Auditor General and the Inspector General of Government. The department is not fully funded with their own vote.

Clarification
May we know the progress on the implementation of the recommendation of the inquiries in police, URA, Junk helicopters purchase and Global fund?

Recommendation
(i) A specific vote for this directorate be established

(ii) The commission of inquiry should not be constituted with the motive to cool the public temper and impress donors but to apprehend and punish the culprits in the effort to fight corruption.

(iii) We call upon the Minister to read the Auditor General's Report and start with cleaning up state house and the ministry in charge of The Presidency. There is a lot of mismanagement of public resources.

My department will make sure that the constitution and code of conduct is an intergral part of our daily life at least to the public and civil servant.

1.5 Directorate of Economic Affairs and Research Mr. Speaker Sir, whereas we appreciate the functions of the directorate of economic affairs and research; it remains disturbing for the office of the president to continue facilitating and assisting investors whenever they meet the operational difficulties.

Mr. Speaker Sir, there is a statutory body of Uganda investment Authority under the Ministry of Finance which is mandated to source, aid and guide the investors. The involvement of the President to investors is to usurp the powers of Uganda Investment Authority, a statutory body! President's office or state house cannot be turned into a clearing agency."

1.6 Internal Security Organization / External Security Organization ISO/ESO

Observation
The departments of ESO/ISO have been misused into politics of Uganda. In other countries these departments do the Economic Monitoring, Intelligence and Investigations.

Recommendations
The Security Organization needs to be streamlined instead of doing security work of economic monitoring and investigations; they are interfering with the work of police.

We propose that these two departments (ISO/ESO) should be used to reshape and build a vibrant economy by investigating economic saboteurs, fake investors and shoddy work done by the Ministry Tender Boards and above all fight corruption.

One wonders as to why such expenditures on these organizations cannot be given to the specialized units of police and the army such as special branch, CMI and Police CID,

1.7 Directorate of Information.
The mission of the directorate of information is "to ensure that all districts in Uganda receive UBC and at least the country receives 75% coverage, up to now districts like; Kisoro, Moroto, Kotido, Katakwi, Kasese, Bundibugyo and Kapchorwa, Kanungu, Nakapiripiti, Moyo, Yumbe, Adjumani, Kitgum, Kaberamaido and many other districts don't receive UBC/TV.

The President promised a countrywide coverage of UBC/TV in his 2001 manifestos and now it is long overdue.

Recommendation
The Ministry of Information and National Guidance should implement the president's manifesto and cover the districts not yet networked.

Justification
Access to information is a key factor to development and no region should be left behind in accessing information.

1.8 Political Intolerance
Mr. Speaker Sir, whereas were agree with the presidency to "detect, prevent and curtail the commission of politically, motivated crimes and provide intelligence information to other agencies in order to prevent terrorism, armed rebellion and espionage, supervision and sabotage with in the political, security, social-economical, scientific and technological spheres; its also our concern for the presidency not to misuse his objective against political opponents.

Mr. Speaker Sir, in the last concluded presidential elections, there were some trumped up charges including the rape cases against the leader of FDC, which were used to buy his time, curtail his freedom and democratic rights to effectively campaign and solicit votes.

Recommendation
Mr. Speaker Sir, its our appeal to the government to drop all trumped up charges against the leader of FDC since this year appears to be a year of reconciliation.

Justification
This intends to bring to harmony, unity and peace to our country.

2.0 Policy framework

Mr. Speaker and honourable members, after NRM was declared the winner in the last concluded presidential elections; her manifesto should immediately be translated into government policy and programs. In the next five years of leadership, the NRM manifesto should cease to be a party manifesto and becomes the government policy and shared policies and programs for the nation.

"Bona Bagagawale Policy" Allow me Mr. Speaker Sir, to consider the government programs of Bona Bagagawale as it is in the NRM-O manifesto and bound to be the government policy.

Observation

Mr. Speaker Sir, there is no evidence anywhere in the world where people developed as a result of being given money. In the early 1960's and 70's the World Bank pumped money in the Asian countries referred to as the "Asian Tiger Economics." In the short run it appeared as if there was a boom and eventually in late 70'S the economies collapsed for the dictatorships to survive. Bona Bagagagwale as a policy is not focused; you rather "Invest in our people." As it's an FDC policy in our manifesto.

Recommendations
Bona Bagagawale as it is structured now is bound to fail because government is aiming at dishing out money to the population. There is nowhere in the whole world where the economy has ever developed through handouts rather focus on the production. Uganda already lost a lot of money in Entandikwa which up to now failed to eradicate poverty.

We request the government to abandon this programme and instead adopt the FDC policy of "investing in our people" which aims at a holistic approach of the government to entirely revamp the economy.

Issues of Concern
1. Celebration of National, Holidays.
Mr. Speaker and honourable members, you will agree with me that Africa and Uganda inclusive is behind schedule by 2006 yrs. For this reason Africa and Uganda cannot afford so many public holidays. There are too many national holidays with economic implications like NRM victory day, Heroes day, Liberation day, Tarehe Sita day and other International days. Even Uganda Revenue Authority is complaining that Uganda looses Ug1bn shillings every public holiday.

Recommendation
It's our opinion that all these days can be celebrated together with Independence Day save the international days and other days imposed to us by international treaties and protocols.

Justification
This will save the unnecessary expenditure met during those celebrations and above all it's economically expensive to the country.

2. Upland Rice Scheme
Observation

Mr. Speaker Sir, and Honourable members we appreciate the efforts done by the Vice President to use upland rice as a pilot scheme for poverty eradication. However, there are two concerns raised on pages 26 of the ministerial statement. While promoting the growing of Upland Rice, how did the Vice President start paying school fees for the farmers' Children? What are the Criteria followed when the Vice President starts paying school fees for some children?

This is open to corruption and abuse of Public funds.

Recommendations.
The Upland Rice Project under the Vice President's Office thus under The Presidency should be adopted and be passed over to the Ministry of Agriculture for easy supervision and funding. Paying school fees to some children should stop immediately and a proper scholarship scheme is established and open to access by all members.

A list of already paid for students be produced to social services committee of parliament for scrutiny.

3. Funding of the renovation of presidential suite wing of parliament is not necessary. It's in our opinion that the office of the president leaves parliamentary building and acquire their new home and the Parliamentary premises be returned to the parliamentary commission since it lacks space for the members of parliament. These two arms of government should be seen to be separated for smooth running of government

Fate of UBC employees.
Mr. Speaker Sir, there was the sale of land and the destruction of the building that used to host UBC/UTU later on, there was re-allocation. May we know the fate of the former employees of such organizations especially those that lost their jobs during the merger of Radio Uganda and UTV? Funding of the office of the president and state house.

Observation.
According to the ministerial statements, in the financial year 2005/6, the state house alone had 546 staff and office of the president 720 staff. These two offices received the recurrent expenditure of Ug 101.975 billion all together (Ug 59.689 billion and Ug 42.29 billion respectively). Whereas the ministry of Agriculture that employs 80% of our population received Ug 31.14 billion only, the ministry of education received Ugx 57.31 billion. Ministry of Energy and Minerals received Ugx 3.4 billion works transport and communication 28.506 billion.

Recommendation.
There is over spending of this Ministry of The Presidency at the expense of other relevant ministries of our Economy. More attention should be given to the Ministry of Agriculture, Education, Works and transport and Energy.

Justification
The ministries of Agriculture, Education, Energy, Works and Transport are key players in the economic development of our Country.

6. Implementation of leadership code
We appreciate the difficulties the directorate of ethics and integrity is facing especially under staffing and political undermining in matters of corruption. We appeal to the minister to bring to parliament as soon as possible the leadership code Act for amendment and the Whistle Blower Protection and intention Bill and all other related bills. We promise to give the minister the necessary support.

7. Enquiries about the presidential expenditure.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable members, the president's expenditure towards improvement in household incomes, security, food nutrition and living conditions of homestead of Ug 3 billion needs to be studied and report back to parliament on who received what, when and where and the progress of such contribution and their impact to the beneficiaries.

8. Burials, Weddings and Fundraisings.

On page 54, Mr. Speaker Sir, there is reclaim that Ugx 5.6 billion shilling was spent on burials weddings and fundraising. We need an explanation on the criterion for the state wedding for the nation to spend on, burials and fundraising. This is likely to be an avenue of fraud and mismanagement of Public funds. We welcomed that a detailed report for scrutiny be made to the relevant committee.

9. Presidential Expenditure of 28 billion searching for investors.

Mr. Speaker Sir, the minister is informing us through the ministerial statement that the president spent 2.8 billion searching for the investors. May we be told the role of our diplomatic missions abroad and the role of the ministry of trade and industry? The president is usurping the functions of other departments and we appeal to the president to allow the Uganda Investment Authority and the Ministry of trade and investment t carryout the functions and institutional building.

10. HIV/AIDS ABC STRATEGY.
The office of the President undertook an engagement in the Anti-HIV crusade emphasizing the ABC strategy. May we know the Government policy whether it is abstinence on use of condom and also the progress of their initiatives of ABC strategy.

CHALLENGES.
Challenge of the Ministerial Budget Policy Statement
The minister raises the major constraints to the performance of the presidency during the FY 2005/06 as follows: -
1. That there is a big gap between the estimates and actual approved budget (page57). We wish to advice the minister that maintaining unnecessary offices creates this gap. With our proposal to abolish RDCs, maintain the right sizes and merge it with CAO and security organs will save more money to facilitate your budget.
Also with the reduction of numbers on presidential advisors to ten and presidential assistants to four will help to realize the funding of relevant activities in your Ministry.

2. Presidential transport.
Mr. Speaker and honourable members does the president need a motorcade of forty (40) vehicles to come to parliament or to Entebbe airport from state house. There is a lot of misuse of public funds under your ministry.

3. That there is inability to settle outstanding pledges and domestic arrears, which give a bad image to the presidency. We advice the president to always pledge what is provided for in the line Ministries, budgets.

Parliament should not support the funding of all pledges outside the budget. In case the president makes a pledge then it should be reflected and considered in the next financial year budget.

4. We appreciate the shortage of staff in the department of Ethics and Integrity and appeal to the public service sector to support this department in order to do work effectively. In mean time the ministry should try to utilize the staff in IGG, CID, Auditor General and intelligence organizations.

5. On corruption. We appeal to the government not only to target the small fish and leave out the big ones. The president promised to avail the leader of opposition with some files on some officials and other several reports of commission of inquiries. We are waiting to see him fulfil his pledge. We argue the department of ethics and integrity to implement the recommendation of different commission of inquiries.

STATUTORY REPORT:
AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT

Office of the Presidency
GHOST (UN EXISTING WORKER) PAYMENTS.
(a) Unclassified Emoluments to a Presidential Advisor.
Mr. Speaker Sir, it's unbelievable that some of the presidential advisors were more equal than others. That one of the presidential advisors was being paid and drawing benefits according to a minister of states. Even when the minister of Public service redrew the contract, benefits and emoluments, the same Presidential Advisor rejected the contract and continued to draw his salary, gratuity and other benefits without signing a new contract.

Recommendations.
- The said presidential Advisor be interdicted, arrested and be prosecuted for obtaining public money a fraudulent money.
- The Accounting officer should be held responsible
- Measures to recover the fraudulently drawn monies should be taken.
- Payment to undeployed presidential appointees should stop immediately.

(b) Payment to un deployed Presidential Appointee

It is very unfortunate for the ministry to continue paying to two RDCs who ceased to hold office in 2001 up to today. This amounts to corruption, abuse of office and obtaining money in fraudulent manner.


Recommendations.
- The mentioned RDCs should be prosecuted for obtaining public pay in a fraudulent manner.
- The accounting officer be held responsible
- Measures to refund the fraudulent pay be made

© Payment to a retired officer
Mr. Speaker Sir and honourable members, an information officer who resigned in August 2003 continued to draw his salary up to 2004.

Recommendations.
- The mentioned retired information officer should be prosecuted for obtaining public pay in a fraudulent manner.
- The Accounting officer be held responsible
- Measures to recover that fraudulent pay be established.

(d) Fraudulent Payment
Mr. Speaker Sir, a cheque amounting to Ugx 167 million supposed to be payable to Uganda Revenue Authority ended up in a private Individual account. This is an evidence of corruption, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.

Recommendation.
- The implicated individual should be arrested and prosecuted.
- The accounting officer be held responsible and prosecuted.
- Measures to recover that money be established.
Funds not accounted for under Presidents Office.

The following funds cannot be accounted for since there are no supporting documents

(a) Headquarter Imprest	Ug.shs. 1,179,000
(b) RDCs Imprest	1,490,000
(c) Victory Day celebrations	3,190,000
(d) Former President's Wedding	32,668,000
(e) Independence Anniversary	2,090,000
(d) Advanced to political leaders by Mega FM	20,000,000

Recommendation:
- The accounting Officer should be held responsible and account for all the released money.
- Mega Fm should explain how they started funding political leaders' activities.
Excess Expenditure:
Mr. Speaker Sir, the office of the President spent over Ugx 3.8bn excess to their budget and cannot produce evidence of its approval by way of virements or re-allocation This unauthorized excess expenditure violets the financial regulations.

Recommendation -
Proper financial regulations should be followed
- The Accounting Officer should be held responsible

UTV/Radio- Land issues.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the land Uganda BroadCasting Co-operation should not continue to be allocated without proper procedures e.g.

(a) UTV- Kololo Hill Summit
UTL owns land that hosts UBC facilities. The office of the president also has properties including the masts on the same land. There is no clear position on the ownership of such land

Recommendations.
A memorandum of understanding or contract should immediately be entered into and rightful owners of the land be established.

(b) Naguru Hill Communication Station
Uganda land commission that is still holding land title of plot 35
Naguru
Hill should give it to the owner.

(i) Allocation of land to a private FM radio which occupies a sizeable portion is still not Clear since there are no supporting documents.
(ii) Un paid rent Some Radio stations continues to use radio Uganda transmission masts without paying rent while others have no contract signed by the office of the president.

© UBC land in Bugolobi.
UBC radio has got 8.165 hectares, surveyed but up to day, the plot number is not known. Unfortunately, there are so many encroachers to the land.

We ask the land commission to easy the process and given the land little to the owners
- Revoke some land allocations
- And put caveat emptor to all the land in question.

(d) Radio Uganda land at Kabiira Road.
The land at Kabiira Road Station is not forced and not surveyed which makes it prone to potential encroachments.

Recommendations.
-The land should be surveyed and fenced.
- Land title should immediately be processed.

(e) Butebo Station Land.
Butebo Station has a very big expanse of land that is not surveyed.

Recommendations.
The land should immediately be surveyed and land title be issued.

General observation.
The office of the presidents of recent has been re-allocating Government lands to unclear investors without following proper procedures on land allocation.

Contracting unregistered VAT companies.
Mr. Speaker Sir, three companies that were contracted to construct state lodges up country were not registered for VAT payments. These companies were paid Shs. 86.777.731 with VAT amounting shs. 12.308.731/=. They did not remit any payment since they are not supported by in VAT invoice. There is need to follow the established regulations for companies to win tenders.

Purchase of Helicopter spares.
Mr. Speaker Sir, and honourable members, shs. 84 million was deposited with a certain commercial bank to open a letter of credit to purchase helicopter spare parts. Up to today, there is no supporting document to prove whether spares were delivered.

Recommendations.
- The Accounting officer should be held responsible
- Financial regulations should be followed in any Government purchases.

Extravagant Telephone Allocations.
Mr. Speaker Sir, there is extravagant spending on telephone lines by the office of the president. One of the telephone lines had a credit balance of shs. 431 million. Yet the same office was heavily indebted on various other accounts.

There is also an allocation of Shs.122 million to non-existing telephone lines. Of which Shs. 2.6 million was used by a private personal telephone line.

Recommendations.
- The accounting office in these departments should be held responsible and be prosecuted for violation of financial regulations.

General observation.
Mr. Speaker Sir, whereas the ministry complains of an inefficient funding, in financial year 2003/2004 the ministry had not utilized cash balances of Shs. 219million of which there is no supporting evidence that this was returned to the consolidated funds. There is a need of proper explanation by the ministry to account for such un utilized funds of 2003/2004.

OTHER STATUTORY REPORTS

Mr. Speaker sir, the other budget estimates of other statutory bodies under presidency were not detailed especially about the activities and accountability of FY2005/06.

We appeal to the Uganda AIDS Commission and IGG next time to avail us with the necessary information for scrutiny. Mean while we ask parliament to pass their budgets.

CONCLUSIONS.
Mr. Speaker Sir and Honourable members, having put our recommendations into considerations like scrapping of RDC's, reduce the presidential Advisors and presidential assistants to only ten and four respectively, avoiding the president interfering with other department role like Ministry of Agriculture, Investment Authority, and Ministry of Health.

Try to avoid lavish expenditure in the presidents' office
We appeal to the minister to revisit both, the recurrent and developmental expenditure of vote 001, Vote 002, and re-allocation of vote107, to the relevant Ministry. The minister having considered our recommendation, we ask Parliament to pass the budget.

I thank you for your kind attention

One Uganda One People
For God and my Country.

Hon. KIBANZANGA CHRISTOPHER TABAN (FDC)
Shadow Minister Presidency and Anti- Corruption.