Muhakanizi orders UTL audit to stop until court case disposed of
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Keith Muhakanizi has directed the Acting Internal Auditor General to halt the audit on Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL) because the audit would be subjudice since the question of audit of UTL is now before court.
“I have also discussed this matter with Hon. Matia Kasaija and he has directed that we should allow the court process to take its course and subsequently conduct the audit following this due process,” a letter dated 2nd August 2019 and signed by Keith Muhakanizi further reads.
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The Internal Audit department in the Finance Ministry was expected to begin auditing the operations of Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL), following a directive by President Yoweri Museveni to the State Minister for Investment, Ms Evelyn Anite that she constitutes a team to audit the firm.
However, when Nile Post conducted officials from UTL, they indicated that the audit had not yet started even though today was expected to be the commencement date.
https://nilepost.co.ug/2019/07/05/utl-saga-museveni-ignores-anites-call-to-replace-bemanya/
Muhakanizi’s letter now follows a series of letters from Investment Minister Evelyn Anite and the Attorney General disagreeing on the audit of UTL. Following the Preisident’s letter on 16th July addressed to Anite to constitute a team to carry out the audit, Minister Anite wrote to the Ag. Internal Auditor General directing an internal audit of UTL. Activities. “Evaluate the state of affairs within a period of one month from the date of receipt of this letter. Please ensure the internal audit is comprehensice enough to confirm or clear the allegations by the president,” a letter signed by Anite reads.
https://nilepost.co.ug/2019/07/18/museveni-directs-minister-anite-to-audit-utl/
This was contrary to what the Attorney General had advised. On 1st July 2019, the Attorney General William Byaruhanga advised that there cannot be an audit of the administrator's activities in Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL) until when the administration process elapses. Byaruhanga said the administrator Bemanya Twebaze is only bound to make reports on the progress of administration to the creditors of the company and furnish copies to court, the official receiver and the registrar of companies.
Muhakanizi’s position in today’s letter re affirms the Attorney General’s position. “This is to advise that the audit of UTL shall conducted as guided by Court. The Ag. Internal Auditor General is hereby instructed to halt the audit exercise to ensure compliance with the laws of Uganda,” Muhakanizi’s letter reads.
