Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee Inquires About Excessive Presidential Advisors and Unspent Funds at the Office of the President
During a session with officials from the Office of the President led by Permanent Secretary Yunus Kakande to review the December 2023 Auditor General’s report, members of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee raised concerns over the inflated number of 139 Presidential Advisors, some of whom are already receiving benefits from their previous positions.
Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa sought clarification from Kakande regarding Ugandans appointed as Presidential Advisors who have not received any emoluments.
Butambala County MP Muwanga Kivumbi asked Kakande to specify the current count of Presidential Advisors, to which he responded that there are 139, with the latest addition being former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya.
Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, Muwanga, questioned the rationale behind senior political leaders such as Edward Ssekandi, who previously held multiple offices, receiving salaries and benefits as Senior Presidential Advisors while still enjoying benefits from their past roles.
Kakande explained that Ssekandi receives full benefits, including salary and a 40% gratuity, as a Senior Presidential Advisor, alongside benefits from the Ministry of Public Service.
Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa raised concerns about disparities in benefits received by individuals like Ssekandi, Bukenya, former Premiers Amama Mbabazi, and Ruhakana Rugunda from the consolidated fund.
The committee also discovered that the Office of the President failed to spend 4.6 billion shillings in the last financial year, intended for pension and gratuity payments. Kakande attributed this to beneficiaries’ failure to provide evidence of their existence, noting that beneficiaries over 75 years old must provide proof of being alive.
