By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: Pius Bigirimana has been appointed Permanent Secretary to the Judiciary replacing troubled Kagole Kivumbi who has now been unceremoniously kicked out.
Speaking to the Media briefly after his appointment, Bigirimana confirmed that he will assume his new office as the secretary to the Judiciary with immediate effect.
The appointment letter dated 26th July 2019 from the head of Public service and secretary to cabinet Dr John Mitala directed Bigirimana to hand over his office within the existing regulations without any delay.
He is replacing troubled Kagole Kivumbi who has been on the spot over
alleged misappropriation of funds. In a letter dated July 19, Permanent
Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury (PSST) Keith Muhakanizi informed Kagole
that he cannot appoint him to serve as Accounting Officer to the Judiciary for
the Financial Year 2019/2020 basing on the Internal Auditor General’s report.
“In accordance with Section 11 (2) (g) of the Public Finance Management Act
2015 and based on the report of the Internal Auditor General, this is to inform
you that I am unable to appoint as the Accounting Officer for Vote
101-Judiciary for the Financial Year 2019/20”, Muhakanizi wrote.
The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament had earlier recommended for the sacking of Kagole for allegedly diverting funds for the Judiciary service commission worth over shs3.3 billion.
Kagole instead attributed the diversion of funds to ‘urgent needs’ within the Commission, when he appeared before PAC last year.
In another correspondence, Kagole Kivumbi who has been the Judiciary Permanent Secretary has written to the Commissioner in charge of Human Resource Management informing him of the developments that have seen him sent for forced leave.
“I am writing to inform you that the appointing authority has directed that I proceed on leave from today July 26 2019,”Kagole wrote in a letter dated July 26.
“Consequently I am asking you with the responsibility of preparing the draft of my handover notes to the incoming Permanent Secretary.”
The developments come on the backdrop of accountability issues against Kagole Kivumbi.
