Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /usr/www/users/urnnet/a/story.php on line 43 Kampala Minister Asks IGG to Investigate Illegal Collection of Fees in City Markets :: Uganda Radionetwork
In 2020, President Yoweri Museveni suspended collections in markets, but Kabanda says that markets have continued to collect money and failed to account for it.
The Minister
for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs Hajjat Minsa Kabanda wants the Inspector
General of Government-IGG Beti Olive Namisango Kamya to investigate corruption
in City markets.
According to
Kabanda leaders in the City Markets are collecting garbage fees, despite the
services being provided by KCCA. In 2020, President Yoweri Museveni suspended collections
in markets, but Kabanda says that markets have continued to collect money and
failed to account for it.
Kabanda was
speaking on Tuesday at a workshop at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala where the
Inspectorate of Government- IG was meeting political leaders in Kampala.
In September, Kabanda demanded accountability for money collected in markets
including Owino Market and Nakasero market. She says, her investigations indicate
that more than One Billion Shillings have been collected but unaccounted for.
Kabanda also asked the IGG to Investigate why in Wandegeya market, there are unoccupied
lockups yet there is a presence of street vendors. Close to 100 lockups in
Wandegeya Market are under lock and key by tenants who acquired them and turned
them into stores.
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Kabanda also
accused KCCA enforcement officers of confiscating merchandise from street vendors.
She says that her guidance to law enforcement officers to return the
merchandise back to vendors has fallen on deaf ears.
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The Deputy
Speaker of KCCA Nasur Masaba expressed dismay that efforts by local government
to fight corruption are frustrated by some government officials with selfish
interests.
He
specifically referred to the poor contract and procurement process which has
seen government Institutions lose vital assets to private operators without
following due processes.
He cited
Kololo Secondary School land which was given to Sudhir Ruparelia.
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Kamya said
that the Inspectorate of Government is committed to working with ordinary people
to fight corruption. According to the Inspectorate, Uganda loses over 20
trillion Shillings annually to corruption both in form of embezzlement, tax evasion,
and poor service delivery.
She says
that using the recently launched lifestyle audit it will be easier for the
Inspectorate to catch corrupt officials whose wealth doesn’t tally with their
known sources of income.
Kamya says
that government plans to enter bilateral agreements with different countries
across the world to send back illicitly acquired income kept in offshore
accounts.
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The City
Speaker Zahara Luyirika said that the council is committed to fighting corruption.
She however expressed concern that several of their recommendations have not
been implemented.