The meeting that started well turned dramatic when Kasimbazi started presenting the Ministerial Policy Statement. Lawmakers led by Aruu County MP Odonga Otto wondered how the committee would interface with an official Parliament had recommended to be fired.
The parliamentary Finance Committee Wednesday threw out the Undersecretary and Accounting Officer at the Finance Ministry, Betty Kasimbazi, after MPs protested what they termed as ‘disrespect from the ministry.’
Led by David Bahati, the State minister for planning, Ministry of Finance officials were appearing before the committee to present their 2018/2019 Ministerial Policy Statement.
The meeting that started well turned dramatic when Kasimbazi started presenting the Ministerial Policy Statement.
Lawmakers led by Aruu County MP Odonga Otto wondered how the committee would interface with an official Parliament had recommended to be fired.
Parliament had earlier recommended Kasimbazi’s firing after investigations revealed that Finance Ministry charged Shs1.5bn on items, but didn’t t reflect the nature of the expenditure.
The Public Accounts Committee expressed shock at the failure of the Ministry of Finance to set the pace in adhering to the Public Finance Accounting regulations given the central mandate they have in regard to the budget process.
In their recommendations in 2013, Parliament had asked the Ministry of Finance to hold Kasimbazi liable for usurping the appropriation powers of Parliament.
The committee also called for her prosecution for violating the Public Finance and Accountability regulations.
However, the ministry overlooked the committee recommendations and simply apologised for the omission and said that measures had been taken to limit mischarges.
But the ministry’s actions weren’t satisfactory, with lawmakers resolving to throw Kasimbazi out of the committee.
In the 2018/2019, the ministry Budget Estimates stand at UGX466.6 billion, up from UGX429.4 billion approved in 2017/2018 Budget.
In their Ministerial Policy Statement, the ministry has also cut its travel and transportation expenditure from Shs14.3bn in 2017/2018 to Shs13.99bn in the 2018/2019 budget.
The Ministry’s wage bill is projected to increase from UGX20.1 billio in 2017/2018 to UGX31 billion and the Ministry’s expenditure on Communications has also risen from UGX11.79 billion in 2017/2018 to UGX15.1 billion in 2018/2019.