Musenero on the spot over sh5.2b Covid cash

The Parliament Public Accounts Committee has continued its inquiry into the alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 funds as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report.

On Tuesday, the committee interrogated the Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Monica Musenero over machines that were procured to facilitate research and development of COVID-19 vaccines that have never been utilised.

Frederick Angura, the MP Tororo South noted that the procurement was to serve a very significant purpose at that time but unfortunately they have not done so, he instructed the minister to admit that the machines have not served the purpose.

Sarah Opendi, the Woman MP Tororo assured the minister of being at the forefront in guiding the President through the vaccine process. 

She further questioned the minister if she was not aware that she didn't have land at the time she went ahead to procure the machines.

"By the time you go to procure the equipment, you must be aware that you have all the requirements, even where to place this equipment"
The committee members questioned Musenero on how the minister failed to put into use machines that cost the government sh5.2b," Opendi said.

Musenero explained that the machine was not utilized because they failed to secure a suitable building to install it in after the available buildings were found unfit for the purpose.

Angura further ascertained that the obtainable documents indicate that all the available machines had arrived on November 2, 2021, which means by the time of the machine's arrival, the minister was prepared to utilise it and above all, the warranty period for the machine was to end on November 2.
The legislator further eminent that no one can guarantee that the machines whose warranty already expired can serve their purpose.

On the other side, Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi compared the situation to buying a plane with no landing ground for it.

The auditor General's report also noted that the Minister for Science procured 4 Centrifuge at sh110m for COVID-19 scientists at Makerere for anti-body diagnostic test kits but this equipment cannot be tracked.

Mafabi says according to the report, the Centrifuge was lost and never on the assets register.

Musenero then supposed that by the time of the audit, this equipment was stored with many other equipments.

Recently, the MPs also questioned where the minister got the mandate to reallocate the Ministry's funds towards the rehabilitation of the laboratory at Makerere University without the approval of the permanent secretary.

Despite the government investing over sh31b in COVID-19 research, little progress has been made in vaccine development.

In the Financial Year 2019/2020, MoSTI had approved a budget of Shs10b for innovation, out of which Shs5.3b was reallocated by the ministry to Covid-19 expenditure. 

The MoSTI has since been abolished and staff placed under the Office of the President.