ICT Ministry’s Past Procurement Inquiries Put Committee Retreat Back in Focus

A previously reported Shs13 million payment for a retreat involving Parliament’s Committee on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) has come under renewed attention following a meeting between ICT Ministry Permanent Secretary Amina Zawedde and former Speaker Anita Among.

The payment was cited in a ChimpReports investigation published on August 6, 2024, which examined Zawedde’s dealings with police investigators and internal auditors over procurement transactions at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.

The report said police had sought a procurement compliance audit as part of inquiries into alleged corruption and abuse of office at the ministry. Among the transactions highlighted was Shs13 million reportedly spent on a two-day retreat involving Parliament’s ICT Committee at Mestil Hotel in Kampala.

At the time, the committee was chaired by Moses Hassim Magogo, Among’s husband, who was later dropped from the position in June 2024.

The reported expenditure raises questions about the circumstances surrounding the retreat, the purpose of the payment and the procurement procedures followed. However, the reported payment does not, on its own, establish that a kickback was paid or that the retreat was intended to influence parliamentary proceedings.

Committee’s oversight role

Parliament’s records show that Magogo chaired the ICT and National Guidance Committee when Zawedde and ICT Minister Chris Baryomunsi appeared before it on March 22, 2024, to discuss funding challenges affecting the ministry.

In a report published on March 27, 2024, Parliament said the ministry faced a funding gap of Shs38.7 billion across its requirements.

Zawedde told the committee that the ministry needed additional resources for local ICT services, digital skilling, digitisation of government services and the upgrading of the Parish Development Model system.

Magogo called for a comprehensive approach to ICT development encompassing hardware, software and human resources.

The committee’s role included scrutinising the ministry’s funding requirements and holding officials accountable for the implementation of government programmes.

Procurement questions

The ChimpReports investigation also cited other transactions under scrutiny, including Shs105 million for service providers involved in preparations for the launch of the Parish Development Model in North Bukedi Region and Shs85 million for a two-day performance evaluation workshop at the ministry.

The publication reported that investigators were pursuing concerns relating to procurement compliance and financial accountability. The allegations and inquiries reported at the time should not be interpreted as proof of criminal wrongdoing.

The available reporting does not establish that the Shs13 million retreat payment was a kickback to secure hearings, favourable committee recommendations or the passage of legislation.

Zawedde’s meeting with Among

Zawedde’s meeting with Among brings renewed attention to the earlier reporting because of the connections between the ICT Ministry, Parliament’s former ICT Committee leadership and the reported retreat expenditure.

However, the agenda of the latest meeting has not been independently established. There is no verified evidence available for this report showing that the discussions concerned the retreat payment, specific ICT contracts or alleged payments to influence parliamentary decisions.

Clarification from Zawedde and Among on the purpose of their meeting, alongside documentary evidence concerning the retreat expenditure and the outcome of the reported investigations, would help establish whether the issues are connected.