Government embarrassed by refugee scandal, to carry out fresh verification exercise
Government has broken the silence on the scandal involving officials from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) squandering money meant for refugees.
The OPM was hit with a fresh scandal involving its officials in which millions of dollars and other resources meant for refugees were chewed by creating ghost refugees whose money was taken by officials from OPM and United Nation High Commission for Refugees.
On Thursday, the minister for Disaster Preparedness and refugees, Hilary Onek said government feels betrayed by the acts of its officials to divert money and other resources meant for the unprivileged people like refugees.
"We are offended by these acts and whoever is involved is a heartless criminal," Onek told journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala.
According to Onek, government's internal audit mechanisms before they got reports from donors indicated that officials had inflated the number of refugees and were gaining from the non existent numbers and minted millions of money.
"We have started a re verification exercise using the biometric registration of United Nations High Commission for Refugees to know the exact number of refugees. "
Uganda is home to 1.4 million refugees with the biggest number of these coming from South Sudan due to the ongoing conflict.
The minister told journalists in top of a parallel investigation by the development partners into the scandal, government has also started its own investigations into the matter which he said has embarrassment them.
"The police and other security agencies have been given one month to finish investigations and the culprits be brought to book."
Onek added: "Some of the punishments will include suspension of culprits but let us wait for justice to take its course. "
Onek explained that despite each refugee being registered, OPM officials ignored use of biometric system while giving out resources like food to them and it was through this process that the money and resources squandered.
He however said that investigations into the scam will help strengthen the loopholes in the system of handling refugees.
The minister said the investigations will not stop at OPM officials but also international agencies to see if there was connivance between the two.
"We want to assure the country and donors that no stone will be left unturned .Anyone involved in the scam will be dealt with. "
President Museveni on Wednesday said that refugees are not only for compassion but also a policy to increase the country's friends before warning officials from the Office of the Prime Minister involved in squandering money meant for refugees will face the wrath of the law.
“Those stealing refugee money will go to jail. Luzira is waiting for them,”Museveni said during a press conference at the Kawumu demonstration farm in Luweero district on Wednesday afternoon.
The United Nations recently wrote to the Ugandan government demanding for an investigation into the alleged corruption and fraud that led to loss of huge sums of money meant for refugees.
“We have communicated to partners the internal administrative and oversight measures being put in place to get to the bottom of the allegations. The UN has no space for corruption, fraud, trafficking of women and girls or intimidation of UN staff,” UN resident coordinator Rosa Malango said in a statement early this week.
