{UAH} NEWSWAR AT OPM AS MINISTER ECWERU ACCUSES PS GUWATUDDE OF NOT FIGHTING CORRUPTION ENOUGH

By WALAKIRA JOSHUA

December 10, 2019

By Mulengera Reporters

State Minister for Refugees & Disaster Preparedness Musa Ecweru (also Amuria County MP) has in a strongly-worded letter accused Permanent Secretary Christine Kintu Guwatudde of not doing enough to fight corruption among technocrats at the OPM.

In his two-page letter, dated 3rd December, Ecweru lists three OPM employees he considers corrupt yet the PS isn't enthusiastic about cracking the whip on them. He says with the IGG clearly writing very indicting reports about the trio, there is no reason why the PS continues dragging her feet as opposed to swiftly cracking the whip on them. He then lists them as Stephen Twesigye, John Kateregga and Ibanda-hailing Charles Bafaki who since 2017 has been coordinating the $50m DRDIP project that is funded by the World Bank.

DRDIP is aimed at renovating and expanding schools, hospitals and water sources infrastructure in refugee-hosting districts and it has done wonders in Lamwo, Isingiro, Hoima, Kikuube and Kamwenge among other districts. Instead of appreciating Bafaki for such a good job, Ecweru says the mid-aged man from Ibanda should be fired and immediately prosecuted along with the other two for the procurement anomalies that characterized the purchase of OPM premises on Block 2 Plot 253 in Old Kampala.

Some have disputed and questioned Minister Ecweru's intentions as to why he had to copy his very damaging letter to World Bank, UNCHR & other UN agencies well knowing some of them are partly comprised of managers desperately out looking for whatever negative and authenticated information they can base on to discredit the Museveni government and globally portray it as inept when it comes to tackling the corrupt 

This transaction took place sometime last year and to illustrate the extent of the trio's culpability, Ecweru references on the 4th December 2018 IGG Irene Mulyagonja letter regarding the same matter. Wondering why Guwatudde hasn't acted since, Ecweru writes; "This is to draw your attention to the above subject. As you know, we did promise the country and our development partners our commitment to zero tolerance to corruption. I want us to walk the talk."

He wonders why instead of being sanctioned as per IGG inquiry findings and recommendations, "Mr. Bafaki has been promoted to head Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP) which is a very critical World Bank-funded project meant to alleviate suffering from not only refugees but also host communities in our country."

He then directs Guwatudde to immediately fire Bafaki from heading the DRDIP project and find another OPM staffer with moral integrity to replace him. Ecweru, who is said these days to be very paranoid as he hunts for 2021 campaign logistics, adds that; "Mr. Bafaki must never handle land matters in the disaster and refugee docket again since his name appears in numerous land scandals in various reports." Ecweru, who attaches the previous IGG reports against the three officials in case Guwatudde misplaced her copy, also demands thus: "Urgently forward the names of the officers to Public Service and liaise with the office of the DPP for further action."

He says to adequately appreciate the urgency of the matter, Guwatudde must acclimatize herself with the contents of the IGG report and that on the verification of systematic land demarcation. He faults PS Guwatudde for inadvertently frustrating efforts by the OPM to match the zeal other government have exhibited in fighting graft. And he concludes with; "Treat this as urgent and furnish my office with the progress within seven days from today."

WHAT CRITICS SAY

But critics within the OPM system say that much as Bafaki isn't a very good man, Ecweru and his equally belligerent boss Hillary Onek have always not acted very prudently on matters regarding refugee management by the OPM. That the duo has always acted with fear each time the OPM technocrats are required to act in ways that appease their allies (not necessarily well-meaning towards the GoU) in the UN system.

The duo is accused of being too fearful whenever their allies within the UN system demand action against OPM technocrats considered too solid when it comes to defending the GoU interests.

One official said given the easily-visible outputs that have been delivered under the DRDIP project, Ecweru (as line Minister) should ordinarily be defending his technocrats at the OPM refugee department and supporting them to even do better while addressing their modest weaknesses and imperfections here and there.

Some sources say that like many of the Ministers elsewhere, Ecweru these days reacts very apprehensively towards OPM technocrats he suspects to be praying against his reelection as Amuria MP come 2021.

(For comments on this story, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).

--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ugandans at Heart (UAH) Community" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ugandans-at-heart/CABfZXG3-GjX59vSOJfRCzH%2B64HU%2BcH%3D9qgdeQfwubB4eGiEbog%40mail.gmail.com.