The Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) has summoned two Members of Parliament to assist in investigating the management of Shs164 billion intended for compensating cooperative societies that lost funds and property during wars from 1979 to 2006.
Sources reveal that MP Michael Mawanda (NRM, Igara East Constituency) and MP Mudimi Wamakuyu (Elgon County) have been summoned through the Speaker of Parliament to appear at the CID headquarters in Kibuli tomorrow afternoon.
According to copies of the summonses seen by this publication, the police are probing allegations of corruption, theft, and conspiracy to defraud Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society and Bumwambu Growers Cooperative Society concerning their compensation for wartime losses.
“Pursuant to Section 27A (1) a & b of the Police Act Cap 303, you are required to come to the Criminal Investigations Directorate on June 19, 2024, at 1500 hours at the CID boardroom, to share information that may assist in investigations,” reads a summons from Senior Commissioner of Police Beata Chelimo, the deputy director of CID, addressed to one of the MPs.
Detectives have requested MP Mawanda and MP Wamakuyu to bring certified documents related to their transactions with the mentioned cooperative societies. When contacted yesterday, MP Wamakuyu stated, “I have not yet seen the summons. I have not been around but I will be going to Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday). So call me by 10am tomorrow (today).”
The investigations commenced on August 25, 2023, following instructions from the Speaker of Parliament, Ms. Anita Among, who directed the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry to investigate the cooperative funds for the financial years 2011/2012 to 2022/2023.
The police began their investigation last December. The parliamentary committee found that payments had been inflated by at least Shs48b and discovered that some of the claimants were non-existent.
In December 2023, the State Minister for Trade, Harriet Ntababazi, disclosed that nearly 30 MPs were under criminal investigation for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of Shs164b meant for compensating cooperative societies. She made this statement when appearing before the parliamentary committee on Trade and Tourism to update lawmakers on the performance of the two sectors.
