The Minister of State for Trade, Harriet Ntabaazi, has disclosed that 30 Members of Parliament are currently facing criminal investigation over their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of Shs164 billion earmarked for Cooperatives compensation.
Ntabaazi made these revelations during her appearance before Parliament’s Trade Committee, where she further detailed that among the implicated individuals are five Opposition MPs who she described as ‘noisy and talkative.’
The Minister informed the Committee that the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) has taken on files related to the case, with approximately five files already concluded.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Ntabaazi urged calm among the MPs, assuring them that the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives will continue to fulfil its mandate.
“We aren’t scared; we shall undertake it because it is now beyond us. We are before the security investigatory organs of the Government. Let us battle out there, and the law will have it all,” stated Ntabaazi.
In September of this year, the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit arrested officials from the Ministry of Trade Industries and Cooperatives.
These officials are accused of colluding with law firms to misappropriate billions of funds designated for compensating cooperatives for losses incurred during the liberation war and insurgencies.
The decision to compensate the cooperatives was made by the cabinet in 2015.