By Spy Uganda
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has demanded a detailed explanation from the Uganda Police Force over an unexplained Shs53.7 billion gap in its reported contingent liabilities, raising concerns about the growing financial exposure to taxpayers.
The committee questioned the Police Force on Thursday after top management appeared before MPs to respond to queries contained in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2024/2025.
The delegation was led by Deputy Inspector General of Police James Ochaya and Police Under Secretary Aggrey Wunyi, while the committee was chaired by Patrick Nsamba Oshabe.
MPs were alarmed by figures showing that the Police Force’s contingent liabilities had increased from about Shs98 billion in 2024 to Shs163 billion in 2025, representing an increase of approximately Shs64.9 billion.
However, the committee said its review of a schedule containing about 170 quantifiable cases identified claims amounting to only about Shs11.2 billion for cases listed during the two financial years.
This prompted MPs to demand clarification on the whereabouts of the remaining Shs53.7 billion.
The committee wants Police management to establish whether the unexplained amount relates to pending court cases, concluded cases, interest, legal costs or court awards that Government is already required to pay.
PAC Chairperson Nsamba said Police officials must be able to account for each major liability because any successful court claim against the force ultimately becomes a burden on the public purse.
“When you come before Parliament, you must know about these cases, what happened, what the Government is required to pay and where the matter currently stands,” Nsamba told the police officials.
One of the cases that attracted particular attention was Kizito David and two others versus Attorney General, High Court Civil Suit No. 0152 of 2024, involving a claim of more than Shs7 billion.
MPs expressed concern after Police legal officials initially struggled to provide sufficient details about the case.
The committee questioned how the Police Force could appear before Parliament to account for billions of shillings in potential liabilities without having comprehensive information about individual cases.
Butembe County MP Kiirya Wanzala also questioned the circumstances surrounding the accumulation of court awards against the Police Force and whether weaknesses in police operations and litigation management were contributing to the growing financial exposure.
James Kusemererwa, Commandant of the Land Protection Unit, who represented the Police legal department, said the cases largely arose from several categories of disputes.
These included alleged human rights violations linked to the conduct of individual police officers, commercial disputes, procurement disagreements and contractual matters.
Kusemererwa estimated that cases arising from the conduct of individual officers accounted for about 60 percent of the claims.
He further explained that some of the cases had been inherited from the Office of the Attorney General following the decentralisation of responsibility for handling Government litigation to individual agencies.
The explanation, however, did not fully satisfy the committee, with MPs insisting that the Police Force must maintain proper records of cases that could eventually result in substantial payments by Government.
As the committee pressed Police management over court liabilities, MPs also raised concerns about the management of the Uganda Police Exodus Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCO).
Police management told the committee that an investigation into the SACCO’s management and operations is underway and is expected to be completed within two weeks.
The inquiry follows complaints regarding access to members’ savings and the distribution of loans, including allegations that some senior police officers have obtained large loans while lower-ranking officers face difficulties accessing their money.
Mbale Industrial Division MP Masaba Karim told the committee that some senior officers had reportedly borrowed more than Shs500 million from the SACCO.
“There are senior officers who have borrowed in the circle over Shs500 million. So the junior officers are struggling,” Masaba said.
He questioned why ordinary police officers contributing to the SACCO should experience difficulties accessing their savings.
“Why don’t you allow these men and women in uniform, without even ranks, these lower cadres, to access their money?” he asked.
The allegations have not yet been established, with the ongoing investigation expected to determine whether there were governance or lending irregularities.
Police Under Secretary Aggrey Wunyi said Police management became involved in the SACCO’s affairs after concerns emerged about its operations.
“The circle issue is now subject to investigation,” Wunyi told MPs, adding that the findings would be made available and appropriate action taken based on the recommendations.
PAC Chairperson Nsamba said the committee would consider the investigation report in determining its next course of action.
The developments have placed both the Police Force’s litigation exposure and its SACCO management systems under increased parliamentary scrutiny.
For PAC, the immediate concern is to establish how the Police Force arrived at the Shs163 billion contingent liability figure and reconcile it with the cases detailed in its records.
