The Privatisation and Investment junior minister has been ordered to immediately institute an audit in the activities of Uganda Telecommunication Limited (UTL).
The directive to Evelyn Anite is contained in a July 16 letter in which President Museveni says he had “heard of some allegations” against managers of the telecom company.
“This is to direct you to institute an audit in the activities that are going on in Uganda Telecommunication Limited. I have heard of some allegations,” reads part of the President’s letter.
The audit should clear them or confirm them.”
This is the second letter written by President Museveni in less than 10 days over the wrangles that have engulfed the struggling telecommunications firm which has been placed under administration for over two years now following debts of more than Shs700b.
Last week, the President ordered Justice Minister Kahinda Otafiire to ensure UTL issues are presented before Cabinet before any further action is taken.
This after a series of letters between Anite and William Byaruhanga (Attorney General) together with his deputy Mwesigwa Rukutana.
“As I have guided on several occasions, given the strategic importance of UTL to the economy, government has been in the process of identifying a suitable investor/s to partner with to revamp UTL as opposed to diverting it,” Museveni wrote then.
“The above position was also taken by Cabinet. Therefore, no actions contrary to Cabinet’s position should be taken. Further, Cabinet must always be consulted on any investment or related decisions concerning UTL before they are taken.” he added.
Following the Shs700b debt among other woes facing the firm Twebaze Bemanya, the Registrar General of Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), was appointed the provisional administrator of the firm, with a sole task of finding an investor to buy UTL within six months. Since his appointment in 2007, UTL has not attract any investor while Mr Bemanya’s tenure was extended twice.
Museveni’s later to Otafiire prompted the minister to write to Bemanya to find an investor as soon as possible.
“As the administrator of the company, you are requested to expedite the process of sourcing a strategic investor. You are required to continuously update me on the progress to enable me report to Cabinet accordingly,” Mr Otafiire wrote.
Now sources indicate that it is the dubious process of finding an investor that was brought to the President’s attention.
