The Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) in Uganda's parliament has handed over officials from the Local Government Finance Commission to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) for further investigation. The move follows concerns raised in the Auditor General's report regarding the mismanagement of government assets. The officials, led by Adam Babale, Secretary to the Local Government Finance Commission, were summoned to appear before the COSASE committee chaired by Muwada Nkunyingi.
During their appearance, the officials were questioned about the alleged mismanagement of government assets, including motor vehicles whose registration details, logbooks, and insurance records could not be traced. The vehicles are reportedly valued at billions of shillings. The committee also sought explanations for missing information technology equipment valued at approximately 141.8 million shillings. The missing items include 41 desktop computers, seven laptops, printers, projectors, monitors, a notepad, and a video recorder.
The officials reportedly failed to provide satisfactory evidence accounting for the missing assets. As a result, Committee chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi directed CID officers attached to Parliament to accompany the officials and search the commission's stores and other locations where the items are suspected to have been kept. This was to ensure that a thorough investigation was conducted and to possibly recover the missing assets.
The officials were also directed to reappear before COSASE on Monday, October 5, 2026, this time accompanied by the commission's leadership and commissioners. During their next appearance, they are expected to provide further explanations regarding the missing assets and possibly shed more light on the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.
The Local Government Finance Commission's handling of government assets has come under scrutiny, with the Auditor General's report highlighting significant discrepancies. The report's findings led to the summoning of the commission's officials by COSASE, which is responsible for overseeing the activities of statutory bodies and state enterprises.
The CID will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, gathering evidence and possibly interviewing more individuals. The outcome of the investigation is expected to be presented to COSASE, which will then determine the next course of action. This could include recommending disciplinary action against the officials found to be responsible for the mismanagement of assets.
The handing over of the officials to CID marks a significant step in addressing concerns about the management of public assets in Uganda. It demonstrates the government's commitment to accountability and transparency in the handling of public resources. The case is expected to draw attention to the need for better asset management practices within government agencies and commissions.
Key points
- The Local Government Finance Commission officials were handed over to CID for investigation into missing government assets worth billions of shillings.
- The officials failed to provide satisfactory evidence accounting for the missing assets, including motor vehicles and IT equipment.
- The CID investigation is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the assets and possibly lead to disciplinary action.
