By Our Reporters
Fresh information has emerged giving new insights as to what actually led to the sudden resignation last month of Augustine Tamale who, as Bursar, headed Makerere University’s entire Finance & Planning Directorate. We have established that in August 2017, not long after taking office, Tamale obtained information showing that College of Health Science’s Bursar James Ninsiima was involved in mischief of some sort. To confirm his fears, Tamale acted very prudently by instituting a team to probe the extent to which the claims against Mr. James Ninsiima were correct and actionable. The probing taskforce comprised of Paul Teefe, Margaret Sematengo, Jones Tumwebaze, David Kitunzi, Moses Oluka and Peter Kinene Muganwa. Powerful Ninsiima, who has Headed Accounts department at the College of Health Sciences for sometimes, was from day one not someone Tamale was going to move against and get away it very easily. This is so because the man is well entrenched and boasts of powerful backers in the Main Building where Tamale’s supervisors also sit. The investigations examined a number of questionable transactions including those implicating managers at Stanbic bank’s Makerere branch. The findings were shocking as Tamale summarizes in his 17th August 2017 letter to the University top management calling for sanction against James Ninsiima, a man who financially controls much more money than any of his peers or contemporaries in any other College. Tamale actually recommended suspension but nothing was done to James Ninsiima who continued to rampage as if no red flags had been raised by his immediate supervisor. Having come from Vision Group, where corporate values are heeded as a rule, there was no way Tamale was going to tolerate this and reliable sources say omitting to act by his superiors left him with no option but to quit. “He feared that these things will in future be queried by auditors and he would be the one to face PAC. In the circumstances, the best option for him was to exit to escape the impending grilling arising from curious transactions at the College of Health Sciences,” said a knowledge insider. It’s even more frightening that the red flag Tamale was raising related to money held under donor-supported activities. This is something over which donors, who are renowned for their insistence on accountability, could withheld funding to the entire University in future when things escalate. What has since sparked fury amongst especially Muasa members are the apparent double standards management exhibited on the hitherto unpublicized Ninsiima saga and thereby creating an impression that he is untouchable. “In the past there were other Finance department staff who were accused in less elaborated ways but against whom action was taken. Examples include Boaz Akampulira who was fired and not just suspended; Henry Amanya, Steven Kayima and Mrs. Kiggundu all of whom were suspended on mere suspicions. But here is a clear case where the supervisor has blown the whistle and nothing is being done. Isn’t this the evidence of impunity at Makerere?” ranted a Muasa executive member vowing to mobilize colleagues to further expose this Health Sciences College saga.
The following extract from Tamale’s letter shows why the Bursar was appalled by Ninsiima’s alleged actions and omissions (the letter is referenced “Re: Disciplinary Action Against Mr. Ninsiima James); “During the Board Survey carried out by the Accountant General for the Financial Year 2015/16, the Finance Team Leader of the College of Health Sciences Mr. Ninsiima James withheld two research accounts from the Accountant General with accounts are: Ugx Account 90300056550447 in Stanbic Bank and US Dollar Account 9030008068061 in Stanbic Bank. I became curious and deployed a team in February 2017 to review the transactions on these accounts.
The findings show that: (a) Mr. Ninsiima James has not supervised Mr. James Tumwebaze in bank reconciliation and this has allegedly caused loss of funds (see details attached in report extract attached) and (b) Mr. Ninsiima has poorly kept the research books of account which is not acceptable (Debit of $1,125,395 and Credit of $1,648,989).” Having made his case out, Tamale then proposed that: “In the light of the above, I find him negligent and request you to suspend him immediately to pave way for further investigations into his actions.” The communication was addressed to Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, DVC (F&A) Prof William Bazeyo, Director Human Resources and the Principal College of Health Sciences. Tamale attached a seven (7) page dossier illustrating the findings of the probe committee taskforce that he instituted to examine Mr. James Ninsiima’s actions and omissions and we hereby reproduce the verbatim of the 7 page report (sources sympathetic to University officials who stand accused for their inaction claimed that the matter was abandoned after a parallel inquest exonerated James Ninsiima): For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755!
