Amnesty Commission: MPs query bosses’ double salaries

Amnesty Commission: MPs query bosses’ double salaries

GERALD BAREEBE

Kampala

Members of Parliament yesterday queried a double salary payment worth Shs540m to the chairperson of Uganda Amnesty Commission, Justice Peter Onega, and the Commission’s district settlement team manager, Ms Agnes Sekiboobo.

The money was accumulated over nine years. MPs heard yesterday that the two officials were appointed on a part-time basis which attracted a sitting allowance of Shs100,000 but due to the nature of the work, their employments were illegally upgraded to the level of a full-staff with a monthly payment of Shs2.5 million each. However, Justice Onega and Ms Sekiboobo never resigned their previous jobs and continued to earn two salaries which contravene public service guidelines.

Justice Onega continued to be paid Shs4.5 million from the judiciary with other entitlements like a car, a body guard, a driver and medical treatment while Ms Sekiboobo continued to get Shs1.5 million as a senior lecturer of statistics at Makerere University.

The MPs were shocked that the officials had with intent accepted to be paid two salaries well aware that it was against the law. “Justice Onega, you are in problems and in my view you should apologise and refund this money otherwise it is going to embarrass you and your family,” Mr Ibrahim Byandala (Katikamu North, NRM), said.

The Amnesty commission Secretary, Mr Damian Kato, who was appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions to respond to audit queries raised by the Auditor General, told MPs that he wrote to the appointing authority requesting for intervention to resolve double payment crisis but he never got a response.

Daily Monitor saw a letter from Mr Kato to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Internal Affairs, copied to the AG requesting that the terms of appointment for the two officials be streamlined to enable them earn one salary as required by law.

Mr Sebuliba Mutumba (Kawempe North, DP) who chaired the committee, said there was need for a legal interpretation because this situation has risen before with Justice Julia Ssebutinde and Justice Faith Mwondha being accused of earning double salaries. “Why should someone hold more than one office when there is high unemployment in Uganda?” Mr Sebuliba asked. “You can see the situation you are in now. You must refund this money.”

Some MPs accused the Ministry of Internal affairs of changing the terms of employment for the two officials without making it mandatory for them to resign. But Justice Onega dismissed MPs concerns that he broke rules governing public employment and that he was facing a moral problem by accepting two salaries. He added that he would be willing to resign from the commission and continue with his career in the Judiciary. “I don’t see any moral conflicts because when I was appointed to the commission I was told that I was supposed to receive a sitting allowance of Shs100,000. But when we realised that the nature of the work needed me to be at the commission everyday, I had to be paid that amount every day,” he said.

Ms Sekiboobo said she understood the MPs concerns but denied that she has been receiving a double payment. She said, “What I know is that I am being paid allowances. I don’t know the salary part of it.”

The two officials were yesterday placed under investigation. MPs ordered Mr Kato to provide all documents regarding employment of Justice Onega and Ms Sekibobo and also his correspondences with the Ministry of Internal Affairs