By our reporter
The Commission of Inquiry into Land Matters is under intense scrutiny after blowing shs13 billion within 11 months.
The seven member commission led by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire was appointed by President Yoweri Museveni in December, 2016 but started work in May 2017 and has been moving around the country probing into several land wrangles.
Now, Members of Parliament have asked the Lands Ministry to account for the shs13 billion that has so far been advanced to the commission.
The MPs vowed to block further requests for funds by the commission if it did not provide accountability.
The legislators gave the commission up to the end of financial year to account for all the funds they received.
The MPs’ move comes at the time when the Finance Ministry officials have agreed to release more shs2 billion for the commission to wind up its investigations.
The Finance Ministry’s decision to release more funds was reached after Justice Bamugemereire team complained that their time was running out and the Lands Ministry was reluctant to add them more money.
Apparently, due to an extension of its timeframe, the commission further requested for an additional budget of shs7.8 billion, which the Lands Ministry has already requested the Finance Ministry to provide, through a supplementary budget.
The Lands Ministry Permanent Secretary Dorcas Okalany confirmed the supplementary budget request but distanced herself from the accountability queries.
She said that in case of any accountability queries, the Attorney General John Muwanga will come in and establish whether public funds were spent on approved items if not the law will then take course.
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