COSASE Summons Justice Minister Over URSB Staffing Dispute

What the report says

Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has summoned Uganda’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, to explain the status of Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) officials affected by directives from the Inspector General of Government (IGG). According to Nile Post, the committee wants clarity on whether the minister has acted on the IGG’s orders involving URSB Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho and other senior staff under investigation.

COSASE chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi said the committee is concerned that uncertainty over which officers remain in office could create problems for salary payments and expose the bureau’s accounting officer to financial and administrative risks. The committee also wants to know which staff are entitled to be paid and on what legal basis if the interdiction issue remains unresolved. Mao was expected to appear at the committee’s latest sitting, but instead asked to come a week later.

The hearing has now been set for November 11, when Mao is expected to appear alongside the URSB board chairperson. The committee’s wider review includes accountability issues at URSB, among them about Shs8 billion in unpaid company registration fees. Nile Post reported that COSASE is also examining transactions linked to companies with government shareholding, including Roko Construction, Speke Resort Convention Centre, Tropical Bank and Oil Palm Uganda Limited’s operations on Buvuma Island.

The dispute follows an IGG directive last week seeking implementation of an earlier order to interdict the named URSB officials. The matter remains under investigation, and no findings of guilt have been made.