Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has named a seven-member select committee to investigate the mismanagement of the Uganda Telecom Company (UTL). Kadaga’s pronouncement follows the tabling of a report on irregular transactions by UTL two weeks ago.
The committee members include Michael Tusiime (Mbarara municipality), William Nzoghu (Busongora north), Paula Turyahikayo (Rubabo), Lillian Nakate (Luwero Woman), Thomas Tayebwa (Ruhinda north) and Okin Ojara (Chwa West).
The committee, which is to be chaired by Ojara, is expected to conduct a forensic audit of the government minority-owned company, which a report presented to Parliament by Budadiri West MP Nathan Nandala-Mafabi claimed to have been greatly mismanaged by its current leadership.
In his report to the House, Mafabi asked Parliament to name a select committee to investigate the mess in UTL and also investigate the irregular sale of prime properties and land belonging to the company in Nsambya, Kyambogo, Makerere and Wandegeya.
Mafabi stated that UTL is bleeding financially in local and foreign debts amounting to Shs 128 billion. The committee will, therefore, look into the accounts of the debt-ridden company, as well, as reports of financial impropriety by top managers.
Some of the managers pinned in the irregular deals include Stephen Kaboyo, UTL board chairman; Moses Mwase, director in charge of Privatisation at the ministry of finance and David Nambale, whom Parliament banned from traveling outside the country until the probe is complete.
Government owns a 31 percent stake in the company while Libya African Portfolio Green owns 69 per cent shares.
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