The chairperson Public Accounts Committee, Kassiano Wadri
The committee has also demanded details of more than Shs223 billion the ministry wants for the payment of court awards and other compensation claims to unidentified individuals and private companies.
“The poor Ugandans have not been compensated yet officials in the Ministry of Justice can get money to pay those who are demanding billions,” PAC Chairman Kassiano Wadri said. “We cannot allow Ministry of Justice to pay Shs223 billion without the details. We want to ensure that they are not compensating ghosts.”
In reference to certain payments that continue to wait, the Mbale Municipality legislator, Mr Jack Wamai Wamanga, reminded acting Solicitor General Harriet Lwabi about the case of Mr Losipole Aramutori, a Karimojong elder from Amudat District, who lost his cattle to UPDF in 2010 but has not been compensated to date.
While the President ordered that Mr Aramutori be compensated, the committee heard that officials in the justice ministry have not bothered to visit Karamoja and effect the payment.
Explaining the delay, the acting Director Civil Litigation, Ms Robina Rwakoojo, complained that her department lacked adequate state attorneys. Ms Rwakoojo said everyday she receives about 30 new cases yet she has only 25 government lawyers.
But Mr Wamanga rejected the argument on account that many young lawyers were jobless. Ms Rwakoojo also blamed the delays on under- funding.
Mr Earnest Bafaki, a senior official in the Justice ministry, said this financial year the ministry allocated Shs4.3 billion against the budget of Shs196 billion needed to compensate torture victims, court awards and other compensation claims.
By Yasiin Mugerwa, Daily Monitor
