From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kampala City
A top Ugandan government official has been sent home on compulsory leave following investigations carried out by the Inspector General of Government to establish his excessive wealth.
The action taken against the principal accountant in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Nester Gasasira is seen here as the first major step by the NRM government to instill strict discipline on top government officials charged with the responsibility of taking care of government property and funds.
The report carried by the NEWVISION revealed that the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Healthy Ministry, Dr Sam Zaramba, on November 2,2009 ordered Mr.Gasasira to take his annual leave and at the same time barred him from accessing his office.
According to the report, Gasasira was interdicted under Section 29 of the Public Service Commission regulation, on legal advice of the Solicitor General. The section empowers a responsible officer in the public service interest to interdict an officer when proceedings for his dismissal are being instituted against him.
The Inspector General of Government {IGG} last month directed the Finance Permanent Secretary to initiate dismissal procedures against Mr.Gasasira for failure to disclose the source of his wealth.
In the letter, Raphael Baku said investigations found a lot of false declaration by the officer in question, contrary to the Leadership Code Act. The report said his wealth were not commensurate to his genuine income.
He should be dismissed from the public service for recklessly and knowingly giving false information in his wealth declaration,” Baku’s letter says in part.
“This conduct cast doubt on his conduct as a leader and a person responsible for efficient management of public funds and therefor he is not to hold a position of principal accountant in the public service.”.
After Mr Gasasira had secured a court injunction, the Permanent Secretary of Finance Ministry asked for legal advice from the Office of the Solicitor General.
The letter argued that the court interim order cannot over rule procedures for disciplining public officers.
However, the Permanent Secretary’s directive was met with furry by Mr. Gasasira’s lawyers, who have described the action as contempt of court.
‘Your letter and instructions amount to contempt of court in no uncertainty terms which is punishable under our law, the letter from the lawyer, Ntambprwek Kandeebe and company Advocates of November 5,2009 reads.
The law firm has now threatened to institute legal action against Dr Zaramba, the PS, in his personal capacity “If he doesn’t backtrack.”
“This is a demand that you immediately retract your letter within three hours from receipt of the letter or else court proceedings shall commence against your personally.
The lawyers claimed that Dr.Zaramba had no authority to issue the directive.
Meanwhile ,the Ugandan government, has in recent past undertaken a firm stand against the public servants who misuse the public resources, resulting in a number of dismissals and court cases being instituted against others. The Health Ministry has been targeted, particularly its facilities in outlaying districts, where top official have made irregular and unscheduled surprise visits in some medics facilities, and even found staff not on duty in time, drugs missing and other anomalies.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
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Subject: THE EXCESSIVELY WEALTHY TOP UGANDAN HEALTH MINISTRY OFFICIAL IS SENT PACKING AFTER INVESTIGATIONS TO ESTABLISH HIS SOURCE OF WEALTH IS CONDUCTED.