Kampala, Uganda: Three transport officers from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a fuel card forgery scandal, leading to a loss of 357 million shillings through fuel swaps. The illicit activities came to light when irregular multiple withdrawals of fuel were noticed at the Bukoto Total Energy station on July 30, 2022.
Chairperson of the Committee on Trade, Industry, and Tourism, Mwine Mpaka, expressed deep concern over the misuse of government funds and confirmed that the three officers have been handed over to the police for further investigation.
“The irregular withdrawal of fuel and the subsequent loss of public funds is unacceptable. We take this matter seriously and have handed over the three officers to the police for further investigation,” stated Mwine during the Tuesday committee meeting.
In an attempt to shed light on the matter, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Geraldine Ssali Busulwa, provided clarification on the expenses for transporting the Ministry documents, which amounted to 59.3 million shillings, contrary to earlier allegations of 400 million shillings. However, this revelation also brought to the forefront the issue of some Ministry staff receiving more fuel than the ministers themselves, raising concerns about the mismanagement of fuel within the Ministry.
To everyone’s surprise, Ssali also uncovered that some ministers were not receiving their monthly fuel entitlements. Documents presented showed the fuel consumption of the Ministers, with Senior Minister Francis Mwebesa receiving fuel worth 39 million shillings, State Minister for Trade Harriet Ntabazi 59.2 million shillings, State Minister for Industry David Bahati 41.9 million shillings, and State Minister for Cooperatives Fred Ngobi Gume 43 million shillings.
“I was shocked to learn from the media that some of our ministers were not receiving their monthly fuel allocations. We will address this issue promptly and ensure that the distribution of fuel is fair and transparent,” Ssali remarked.
The forgery of fuel cards ignited a heated debate within the committee, with officers at the Ministry pointing fingers at each other, accusing their colleagues of being behind the fraudulent scheme.
Official documents indicate that the 357 million shillings were withdrawn at Bukoto Total Energy using fuel cards belonging to the three officers in question. These officers were only entitled to 500,000 shillings worth of fuel per month.
Representatives from Total Energy, while defending their position, revealed that some clients had opted to withdraw money instead of fuel at their stations, adding a new dimension to the ongoing investigation.
As the police commence their probe, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives faces increased scrutiny to address the mismanagement of fuel and ensure accountability within its ranks.
The nation is eagerly awaiting the outcome of the investigation, hoping to see justice served and the recovery of the lost public funds. This scandal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and integrity in handling government funds and resources. Authorities and the public alike are determined to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
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