In a February 21 letter addressed to The Observer, the ‘whistleblowers’ accuse the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for protecting implicated individuals like Aminah Zawedde, the ministry’s permanent secretary.
Early last year, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) commenced investigations into the ministry following tipoff from a whistleblower.
During the investigations, SHACU unearthed several scams within the ministry, such as the misuse and duplication of fuel cards, siphoning of funds meant for the Parish Development Model (PDM) as well as nepotism.
At the centre of this investigation was Aminah Zawedde, the ICT and National Guidance ministry Permanent Secretary.However, some sources within the ministry claim this was a witch-hunt to tarnish her name.
On several occasions during the investigation, SHACU summoned and questioned Zawedde and a number of top-level ministry officials while a few of them were arrested.
According to sources, Zawedde appeared at least six times at SHACU for interrogation.In September, 2023, SHACU completed its investigation and handed over the file to the ODPP for perusal and eventual prosecution of the implicated officials.
However, five months down the road, there is yet to be a single person charged in court and it is from this delay that the whistleblowers feel hard done-by.“All was well in the ministry until her [Zawedde’s] arrival in 2021.
She has disrupted all directorates by putting the old guard on katebe while working with a few individuals that came along with her.
As a result, performance of the ministry has declined yet nothing is being done to address the situation,” reads the letter.
“The SHACU report recommended several changes but nothing has been done and this suggests that there are forces against full closure of the chapter.”
The whistleblowers further allege that there could be connivance and collusion between various entities to frustrate justice.
“It was discovered that there are massive flaws in the usage of non-taxable revenue (NTR) by the ministry from entities such as Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
“It was discovered that a great deal of these funds are diverted to inconsequential things as a way to steal the funds.”
FUEL CARD SCANDAL
“There are several incidences where SHACU uncovered real-time fraud but it baffles us that nothing has been done to date.
For example, Alex Mujuni was caught red-handed with 27 fuel cards in June, 2023, but he was released shortly afterwards after pleas from his masters, the minister and permanent secretary,” reads part of the dossier.
It is further alleged that Mujuni, who joined the ministry as a personal assistant to ICT minister Chris Baryomunsi, hijacked the ministry’s transport department and is now its de facto head.
“Since taking over as permanent secretary, Zawedde has discarded the old tested ministry technocrats in favour of her self-picked clique with whom she runs the ministry, including Mujuni,” reads the dossier.
Reached out for a comment, Mariam Natasha, the SHACU spokesperson, said she could not comment on anything because they did their part and everything is now in the hands of the ODPP.
On her part, Irene Nakimbugwe, the deputy public relations officer of the ODPP, said she needed more time to peruse through the file.
“Please give me some time and I will get back to you with the latest information,” she said.
However, a source within ODPP who preferred anonymity said the DPP did not sanction the file because the evidence was weak.
“Much as some of the complaints were genuine, they were structural and system issues that needed to be streamlined and we did not see reason to prosecute anyone because that would disrupt the operations of the ministry,” said the source.PDM SCAMAnother issue that SHACU investigated was the misuse of funds meant for the PDM.
SHACU is said to have discovered the scam in which the designers of the PDM model for the ICT ministry was manipulated.
“SHACU discovered that not only did the permanent secretary okay an inflated procurement for the ministry’s PDM system, the system designers went ahead to manipulate the system to siphon millions,” reads the dossier.
“This was only possible because she recruited her own people, loyalists and relatives to manage such key projects in the ministry.”
MEDIA FAVOURITISM
The whistleblowers further claim that SHACU unearthed a plot in which Zawedde colluded with NBS TV, through its owner Kin Kariisa, to siphon millions through media publicity.
“As a ministry, we are mandated to first deal with government’s media entities like New Vision and UBC but she [Zawedde] diverted hundreds of millions to NBS TV for coverage and publicity on flimsy events and she did not stop there; she ensured that NBS is paid promptly at the expense of any other media house,” reads the dossier.
“We find this irregular and contrary to the public service regulations and orders.”
The whistleblowers further claim that they have it on solid record that Zawedde has poured hundreds of millions into sabotaging efforts to hold her accountable for the mess in the ministry.
“She has recruited most of the top media personnel to handle her public relations and suffocate the scandals she is involved in. Therefore, there is need for closure on this matter to heal tensions within.”
Now a group that describes itself as disgruntled officials within the ministry of ICT and National Guidance are pushing for the closure of a longstanding investigation into corruption, nepotism and mismanagement at the ministry.
Watch this space!
