Lawmakers want investigations to go beyond the verification of more than 180 employees reportedly recruited irregularly, calling for scrutiny of parliamentary expenditure and the institution’s financial controls.
Members of Parliament have called for a comprehensive forensic audit of Parliament’s operations and expenditure following an Inspectorate of Government (IGG) report that found more than 180 employees had allegedly been irregularly recruited.
The lawmakers say the verification of staff appointments should be accompanied by a wider examination of how public funds have been spent, including expenditure under previous parliamentary leadership.
The report has raised questions about recruitment procedures and accountability at the institution as officials from the Ministry of Public Service conduct a verification exercise to establish whether parliamentary staff were appointed in accordance with the required procedures.
The exercise is expected to establish the validity of staff appointments and identify any irregularities. Allegations arising from the recruitment process will need to be assessed through the verification process before conclusions are reached.
Francis Zaake, the MP for Mityana Municipality, and Charles Tebandeke, the MP for Bbaale County, who had previously raised concerns about the number of employees recruited into Parliament, said the IGG report presented an opportunity to improve accountability.
Zaake said he had previously raised concerns about alleged financial mismanagement through an audit subcommittee of Parliament’s Commission, but claimed that the committee’s work was curtailed.
“A lot of money was taken illegally from this institution, and I used to note it in my audit report of the subcommittee in the Commission that deals with audit. We only reported two times, and the internal committee of the Commission was disbanded. A lot of money was misappropriated at that time,” Zaake said.
The lawmakers argue that verifying employees alone will not address all the concerns surrounding the institution’s management. They want investigators to examine expenditure and other financial decisions made under previous parliamentary leadership.
Tebandeke said the IGG’s findings could help the institution address weaknesses in recruitment and protect public resources. He also questioned the qualifications of some staff, particularly drivers.
“This is irregular and unexpected of an institution like Parliament, with some drivers lacking academic qualifications at lower primary and secondary levels, and some scored nine in English, which makes them read road signs,” Tebandeke said.
The lawmakers have also urged the IGG to conduct similar verification exercises across government institutions, arguing that the problems identified at Parliament could reflect wider weaknesses in public-sector recruitment and accountability.
Eddie Kwizera, the MP for Bufumbira County, said the findings should prompt broader scrutiny of public institutions.
“This is an eye-opener for the Inspectorate of Government, and the same thing is happening in other government institutions, where they should carry out similar validation exercises to save taxpayers’ money,” Kwizera said.
The calls for a forensic audit add to pressure for Parliament to demonstrate that public funds are being managed transparently as the staff verification exercise continues.