Following a failed attempt by the Uganda Foreign Affairs Ministry staff in Denmark to swindle public unused monies from the financial year 2019/2020, the Ministry has asked the diplomats to report back to Kampala as investigations into the matter continue.
Early this week, one of the country’s dailies reported that diplomats at Uganda’s mission in Denmark held a zoom meeting in which they plotted on how to steal the money.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry condemned the corruption and the use of public funds in adherence to transparency principles.
“The ministry wishes to express grave concern about the allegations contained in the article and takes this matter seriously. The ministry in consultation with the permanent secretary to the treasury and the auditor general will carry out a comprehensive investigation into this matter,” the statement says
In a clip that leaked, the diplomats are heard discussing how they would raise funds, bribe auditor and at the end of the day walk away of a lion’s share of the funds.
In attendance were embassy officials, Ms Nimisha Madhavani, the head of Mission, Elly Kamuhange, the Deputy Head of Mission, Ms Alex Hope Mukubwa,Accounting Officer, Mr Gordon Katureebe, the first Secretary, Mr. Richard Birionwoha, the third Secretary , Ms slyvia Nambooze Kayongo, the administrative Officer and Musisha Wilfred, the immigration attaché
In the recording, a male voice is heard teling his colleagues that they can allocate themselves the unspent money as per diem.
Another female voice is heard asking. “That’s what I am asking for who. How much for each? I thought for 8 days.
The male voice then responds. “Head of mission 8 days, deputy 8 days, accounting 8 days and the junior staff decide for themselves 1 or 4 days .
The allocation of the money later brewedup a conflict in the zoom meeting as one of attendees was dissatisfied with how a driver would end up getting more money than the middle level staff at the embassy.
“We share with these two people that whatever there is those other two balances find a way to utilize the funds and don’t discuss with the local staff and the Mugisha’s who are in Uganda,” added the female voice
On May 25, Alex Mukubwa, the outgoing accounting officer at the Embassy wrote to the Ministry of Finance requesting to retain the money that had not been spent to enable the embassy transport and settle in the new accounting officer, a request which Keith Muhakanizi the secretary treasury rejected.