By Mulengera Reporters
Justice Catherine Bamugemereire has had to operate without adequate money for the last five (5) months. Mulengera News has impeccably established that having resolved to put country above self, Bamugemereire and her commissioners have gone without remuneration (basically their allowances and monthly retainer) for now five months. Reliable sources say the last time they got remunerated was February 2019. “The lands ministry was the one supposed to be giving them money to facilitate work but it’s sometime since they last passed on any cash to them,” said a knowledgeable source. The same source adds that having failed to get regular releases from the lands ministry, Bamugemereire cried out to the President who directed Hajji Yunnus Kakande who is the Secretary (PS) Office of the President to be releasing to the Commission money to at least meet operational expenses. And consequently, the money Kakande passes on is what the tough judge from Manafwa uses to pay service providers like those whose vehicles the Commissioners use.
The same cash is used to pay for utilities and to also pay the firm that supplies meals and water refreshments during the inquiry sessions. That the failure to attract the necessary financing has prompted the inquiry to scale down on their work scope they had initially planned to cover and report-writing will soon get underway.
Sources tell Mulengera News that there are some powerful officials and actors who thought they would use their control over government cash to patronize Bamugemereire and prevent her from inquiring into things that constitute a red line to them.
Far from it, the no nonsense judge has taken no prisoners in her approach insisting on inquiring into almost everything that is brought to her attention. In the process, she has stepped on many toes and interests including people who are powerful and key to resource-allocation decisions in this country.
NOT FIRST TIME
But referencing on the nearly similar difficulties Bamugemereire endured during the UNRA probe, some say this cash starvation isn’t new. During the UNRA probe at some point, Bamugemereire had to depend on then Jennifer Musisi-led KCCA procurement systems to obtain some of the basic supplies she required to do her work. It was that complicated to the extent that sometimes Imperial Royale Hotel management would threaten to throw them out for unpaid rental arrears prompting Museveni to signal KCCA’s Jennifer Musisi to weigh in.
(For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
