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Recalled diplomats in cash scam remain abroad
Nimisha Madhvani, head of mission at the Uganda Embassy in Denmark. PHOTO/FILE
What you need to know:
- The officials had allegedly convened a Zoom meeting during the lockdown and discussed how to share government money that they were unable to spend during the 2019/2020 financial year.
Some of the officials at Uganda Embassy in Denmark implicated in a corruption scandal early this year have not reported to the headquarters and continue to receive full salaries and allowances, Daily Monitor has learnt.
The officials had allegedly convened a Zoom meeting during the lockdown and discussed how to share government money that they were unable to spend during the 2019/2020 financial year.
On August 25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying the implicated diplomats had been recalled to Kampala to pave way for investigations.
However, sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who wish to remain anonymous told Daily Monitor yesterday that some of the implicated diplomats continue to enjoy full benefits in Denmark.
The permanent secretary at the Foreign Affairs ministry, Mr Patrick Mugoya, said at first they thought the affected diplomats were unable to return to Uganda due to lockdown restrictions. However, even after the government opened the airspace, all the affected diplomats did not show up.
“The ministry wishes to reiterate to the general public that it does not condone corruption and that the use of public funds will adhere to the principles of transparency and efficiency,” he said in the August 25 statement.
He added: “Any deviation by any offer will be met with an appropriate sanction as provided for in the Public Finance and Management Act and Regulations.”
Asked yesterday about delayed investigations and reports that the diplomats have not yet reported to the ministry headquarters, Mr Mugoya explained: “Some have reported but others have not yet.”
In a letter dated September 22, Mr Mugoya states: “Following the re-opening of Entebbe International Airport with effect from October 1, and the removal of quarantine procedures for returning Ugandans who are Covid-19 negative, arrangement should be made for recalled officers to return to headquarters before the end of October.”
On the issue of salaries, the PS said there is no standing order that the officials should not get their salaries.
“When you are a civil servant in Uganda, you earn your salary. If they (embassy officials) had been dismissed from service, may be they would not be getting their salary,” he said.
Background
In the Zoom meeting, the Ugandan diplomats in Denmark resolved that each of the three top diplomats would get $3,120 (about Shs11.4m) as per diem for no work done, while their junior colleagues took $2,160 (about Shs8m) in fraudulent per diem.
