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Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) directed tough questions at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officials regarding the unexplained remittance of shillings 368 million in staff taxes, as highlighted in the recent Auditor General’s report.
During the session, COSASE chairperson Medard Lubega Ssegona pressed UWA representatives to clarify the origin of the funds used to settle staff tax obligations, emphasizing concerns about potential financial losses to the government.
UWA Director of Finance and Administration, Jimmy Mugisa, attributed the payment to deductions from staff allowances, but failed to provide comprehensive details regarding the source of the funds. This prompted requests from the committee for further clarification, with Mugisa seeking additional time to review pertinent documents.
Additionally, MPs raised inquiries regarding UWA’s adherence to new technologies in wildlife protection, particularly the continued use of lethal firearms over less harmful alternatives like powder guns. UWA Executive Director Samuel Mwandha acknowledged the merits of powder guns but defended the necessity of lethal firearms in combatting poaching threats.
The discussion also touched upon UWA’s delayed procurement of equipment, including firearms, citing challenges stemming from a shift in policy by the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) regarding gun provision to the authority.
In further deliberations, concerns were voiced regarding UWA’s merger with Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), with lawmakers seeking clarity on the status of the consolidation process and its implications for staffing and operations.
Source:Ankoletimes