Parliament’s pension scheme under probe

 

By NELSON WESONGA

In Summary

The Inspectorate of Government says the investigation into alleged mismanagement of the scheme arose out of the Auditor General’s 2012 report.

The Inspectorate of Government is investigating the Shs55.5 billion-rich Parliamentary Pension Scheme (PPS) over allegations of financial impropriety.

Ms Irene Mulyagonja, the Inspector General of Government, said the investigation into alleged corruption, abuse of office and cause of financial loss by management of the scheme arose out of the Auditor General’s 2012 report.

 

“The purpose of this letter is to introduce Mr Samuel Ojilong and Ms Judith Katusiime who are mandated to investigate this matter,” said Ms Mulyagonja in an April 18 letter to the Clerk to Parliament, Ms Jane Kibirige.


Ms Mulyagonga urged the House to avail to them all the information as well as the documents necessary to the investigation.

However, the deputy Clerk to Parliament Mr Chris Kaija Kwamya said yesterday that much as PPS welcomes the investigation, the Auditor General had earlier given the scheme a clean bill of health.

“We had an Annual General Meeting two weeks back which was also attended by the Auditor General. He said the scheme is clean. So it is a surprise to the scheme that hardly two weeks later, the allegations have cropped up,” said Mr Kwamya.

Mr Emmanuel Dombo, a member of the Parliamentary Commission, said they would not speculate on why the IGG would probe a scheme that had been given a clean bill of health. “What we do is in conformity with the law. The IGG’s letter is not specific. We cannot begin speculating now,” said Mr Dombo.

The Daily Monitor could not readily establish when the Inspectorate will have completed its investigation. An Act of Parliament set up the PPS in 2007 to serve as a contributory scheme for legislators as well as the parliamentary staff. The government tops up their contributions.