The National Environment Management Authority-NEMA has come under fire from the Committee of Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises for alleged failure to recover a debt of 5.6 billion shillings.
The money accrued from unpaid bills by government bodies such as Uganda National Roads Authority, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and Ministry of Education and Sports.
In his 2013 financial year audit report, the Auditor General blames the failure to recover the money to laxity on the part of NEMA. He noted that, none collection of this money was greatly affecting the implementation of NEMA activities.
On Tuesday, Gerald Ssawula Musoke, the NEMA acting Executive Director and his juniors appeared before the Committee of Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises to respond to the audit queries for the 2010/2011, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 financial years.
Ssawula told the committee that the government agencies had entered into commitments with NEMA indicating their schedules of payment. However, Ibrahim Semujju Nganda, the committee threatened to recommend the disbanding of the authority if management has failed to execute its mandate.
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Moses Kasibante, the Rubaga North MP accused NEMA of failing in its obligations such as monitoring, regulating and inspecting wet lands across the country.
He said most of wetlands are being filled up by investors under the watch of NEMA.
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The Committee also grilled NEMA officials for alleged failure to protect the wetlands in Kyengera, Banda, Kinawataka, Bukasa Muyenga and Bunga.
They said some of the wetlands have been opened up for settlement, sand mining, bricklaying and settlements.
