Museveni to IGG: Do not interfere IGG �don�t interfere
By Grace Matsiko
June 3, 2004
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KAMPALA- President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the IGG, Mr Jotham Tumwesigye, not to interfere in the decision-making process of ministries and institutions. The President, at a cabinet meeting at State House on Tuesday, directed the ombudsman to stop �interfering� in a case concerning the Sh13 billion claim by Incafex Limited and Garuga Properties Limited owned by businessman James Musinguzi. The Solicitor General, Mr Lucian Tibaruha has been handling the case. The meeting was prompted by the bickering between Tibaruha and Tumwesigye over the file containing the claim. The IGG at the weekend issued a warrant of arrest against Tibaruha accusing him of failing to appear before him to explain the matter. Tibaruha was saved from arrest by Military Personnel under the Special Presidential Adviser on political Affairs, Maj. Kakooza Mutale. �The President emphasised that Permanent Secretaries were responsible for the overall administration and accountability of public funds in their ministries. He said that it was not correct for the IGG to interfere or involve himself in the decision-making process of ministries and institutions,� Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Janet Mukwaya said in a confidential letter to the Prime Minister, Prof. Apollo Nsibambi yesterday. She said the President talked to the Deputy IGG, David Psomgen on phone and directed that the IGG should stop interfering in the Musinguzi matter. He said Tumwesigye should withdraw the arrest warrant against Tibaruha. According to the letter, Museveni indicated to Psomgen that Tibaruha would provide photocopies of the documents in the file for the IGG �but the Solicitor General should retain the original file for the purposes of processing and taking appropriate decision on the claim�. �The President expressed the view that it was misconduct for the IGG to take the matter to the press. The meeting agreed that the IGG should not talk to the press on matters concerning senior public officers without first consulting the responsible minister, the PM, the Vice President or the President� Ms Mukwaya stated. She stated that Tibaruha said contrary to press reports, he did not refuse to hand over the file to the IGG. �The truth of the matter is that no decision had been taken by him on the matter and therefore there was nothing for the IGG to investigate,� she added. The letter was copied to the VP, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, Internal Affairs minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, the Inspector general of Police, Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala, the IGG and State House. The letter was a reply to another of June 1, by Nsibambi directing Tibaruha to hand over the file. Tibaruha last evening declined to comment on whether he had complied with the President�s directive. The Monitor learnt that military guards deployed to protect Tibaruha against the IGG�s action had been withdrawn. Effectively, Museveni�s directive to the IGG as contained in Mukwaya�s letter overrules that of Prime minister instructing Tibaruha to hand over the file to Tumwesigye. A State House source said that the President�s intervention was not intended to curtail operations of the IGG but a measure to create harmony among key government offices. The source said that Tumwesigye could take up investigations into the sh13bn independent of the decision process being undertaken by justice ministry. |
� 2004 The Monitor Publications
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