The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anita Among, has ordered an audit into the Committee on Public Accounts Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).
While presiding over Wednesday’s plenary, Among expressed disappointment with the Joel Ssenyonyi-led committee for the bad performance as far as examining the reports and audited accounts of public entities are concerned.
“We have invested lots of money in the COSASE committee [to perform its duties], but there are no results,” Speaker Among observed.
Article 163(5) of the Constitution gives Parliament six months after the submission of the Auditor General’s report to debate and consider the report and take appropriate action.
The Speaker said the period has elapsed and COSASE has only handled four entities (four reports) out of the 107 required.
“Shame on you COSASE,” she said.
The Speaker @AnitahAmong has noted that she is going to ask for “value for money audit” on the Committee on Public Accounts Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) chaired by @JoelSsenyonyi. She has reminded the Opposition on their role to check Gov’t. pic.twitter.com/yB6oCZnish
— Parliament Watch (@pwatchug) January 18, 2023
She, however, clarified that the call for value for money audit on PAC-COSASE is not against the person of Chairperson Joel Ssenyonyi.
“Joel is my very good friend but I am saying you have not done what is expected of you. You have been a bit lazy,” she pointed out.
The Speaker was backed by Busia Municipality MP, Hon Macho Geoffrey, who also called for accountability and value for money.
.. table evidence to support the allegations. #PlenaryUg pic.twitter.com/OwYERzW1g3
— Parliament Watch (@pwatchug) January 18, 2023
On a lighter note, Fort Portal Central Division MP, Hon Alex Ruhunda, was forced to withdraw his remarks on allegations of corruption on the committee.
This followed his failure to table evidence to support the allegations.
In response, Ssenyonyi asked the Speaker to first include the available reports on the order paper for debate.
Speaker @AnitahAmong has raised concern over the performance of the Committee on Commissions Statutory Authorities & State Enterprises (COSASE) chaired by @JoelSsenyonyi. She notes that the Committee has poorly performed having considered only 4 reports.
“Shame on you COSASE” pic.twitter.com/A89GSVtFI7
— Parliament Watch (@pwatchug) January 18, 2023
“Imagine! Anyhow, still waiting for the delivered reports to be given space on Parliament’s order paper!” Ssenyonyi tweeted.
Ssenyonyi appreciated the observations of the speaker regarding the performance of the accountability committee.
“I appreciate your guidance, as committees, we should be able to do a lot more than we are doing challenges notwithstanding.”
Responding to the matter, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon Mathias Mpuuga, said he takes in good faith the Speaker’s observation on the performance of accountability committees and pledged to hold an in-house meeting to iron out these administrative challenges.
“These accountability committees are headed by the opposition, but 99 percent of the membership is from the ruling party. When work is curtailed, it is an indictment to all I know leadership is key, but all of us must work to make sure these committees perform and nobody should curtail their work because they are chaired by the opposition,” Mpuuga noted.
#PlenaryUg pic.twitter.com/Uyf0XRH33f
— Parliament Watch (@pwatchug) January 18, 2023
