The Auditor General is investigating the circumstances under which Dr. Aminah Zawedde, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT, authorized a payment of nearly Shs 1 billion for a vehicle from a car bond in Kampala.
On August 31, 2022, Dr. Zawedde paid Shs 965 million to Cadam Enterprises for a Toyota Land Cruiser LC 300 VX. This transaction is among several flagged as suspicious, prompting a request for detailed information dating back to 2021.
James Bantu, Director of Audit – Forensic Investigations and IT Audits, highlighted the need for all payment instructions, vouchers, and related accountabilities for transactions utilizing Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) for the financial year 2020/21.
Attempts to contact Dr. Zawedde for comment were unsuccessful, but a close associate defended the procurement, claiming adherence to government procedures and noting the purchase of two cars. However, records show a second vehicle was bought separately for Shs 450 million in August 2023.
Local dealerships indicated that a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser LC 300 VX typically costs around Shs 650 million, raising questions about the Shs 965 million expenditure. The investigation also revealed discrepancies in vehicle deployment and procurement practices, with government policy mandating purchases from authorized dealers rather than car bonds.
Further scrutiny includes Shs 4 billion paid to a private television station and multiple vehicle repair payments. The Ministry of Finance’s Permanent Secretary, Ramathan Ggoobi, blocked Dr. Zawedde from accessing Shs 6.7 billion of NTR from UCC due to concerns of budget duplication.
President Museveni has ordered a forensic investigation into the ICT Ministry’s financial activities from 2021 to 2023. This inquiry comes amidst broader efforts to address corruption within the government.
