Kampala Bomb Blast Victims’ Compensation Unaccounted For

Two bombs simultaneously ripped through the Ethiopian Village restaurant and a sports club in the Ugandan capital nearly four years ago.

Over Shs205 Million that was channeled through the office of the Prime Minister to compensate families of the July, 2010 Kampala Bomb Blast victims remain unaccounted for.

An amount of Shs1 Billion was received by the office of the Prime Minister as supplementary funding for compensating victims of the twin blasts at Kampala Rugby Club and Ethiopian Village Bar-kabalagala.

But According to the Auditor General, records availed to his office indicate that Shs794 Million was advanced to the ministry of Internal affairs to effect the compensations. He adds that his office was unable to establish whether the funds were utilized for the intended purpose because no accountability documents were availed for audit examination.

Christine Guwatudde Kintu, the Permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister today told the public accounts committee of Parliament that the documents could not be traced due to the manner in which the former principal Accountant Godfrey Kazinda left office without handing over to his successor.

Mugume Kenneth, the principal Accountant in OPM told the Committee that according to the documents he found in office, Shs 50m shillings was returned from Ministry of Internal Affairs but he could not avail the committee with evidence on the same.

The committee Lead Council Eddie Kwizera, questioned where the balance of 205m was since OPM was extended UGX 1bn and only Shs794m was advanced to the ministry of internal affairs.

Kwizera also questioned why OPM decided to use Ministry of Internal Affairs to compensate the victims yet it has a Ministry of Disaster Preparedness under its docket. The Principal Accountant Mugume told the committee that it was a cabinet decision for the money to go through the Internal Affairs Ministry.

Terego County MP Kassiano Wadri demanded the Office of the Prime Minister officials to avail PAC with a list of Bomb Blast Victims that were dully compensated and also demanded the officials to avail the committee with the name of the activity officer that was working under Principal Accountant Godfrey Kazinda in the compensation to bomb blast victims.

Kassiano also wondered how money for victims who were dying could be embezzled saying that it is an act that is not usual.