The Public Accounts Committee of parliament has directed the CID to investigate the permanent secretary in the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Pius Bigirimana, over the alleged misuse of Shs 11.6 billion meant for women groups.
The directive follows findings of the Auditor General to the effect that the ministry of Gender spent Shs Shs 24.4 billion on women groups but accounted for only Shs 12.4 billion, leaving Shs 11.6 billion unaccounted for.
Gerald Karuhanga, MP for Ntungamo Municipality who is the vice chairperson of PAC, said that as a committee, they want accountability for the Shs 11.6 billion.
"We have directed the CID attached to parliament to pick interest in this matter. Bigirimana has to explain and account for the 11 billion and if he fails, we shall recommend heavy punishment because we may see a repeat of the OPM scandal were billions of money meant for relief and disaster preparedness were misappropriated," Karuhanga said.
This is not the first time Bigirimana has been put in the spotlight over allegations of misappropriation of funds in a ministry he superintends.
In 2012, police investigated the Office of the Prime Minister when Bigirimana was the PS over diversion of Shs 1.8 billion meant to purchase vehicles.
The funds were diverted from Shs.20.1 billion that had been earmarked for PRDP activities in northern Uganda.
