Finance Ministry Warned of Contempt Over Digital Number Plate Probe

Officials from the Ministry of Finance are facing potential contempt of Parliament charges due to their persistent absence from sessions called by the Physical Infrastructure Committee. The committee, led by Mwine Mpaka, is investigating the financial arrangements for the controversial digital number plates project.

Despite multiple invitations, Ministry of Finance representatives have failed to appear before the committee, citing various excuses such as unavailability or the need for additional study time. Chairperson Mpaka expressed dissatisfaction with this lack of cooperation, stating that such behavior is “not acceptable.”

The committee’s inquiry is focused on a financial model reportedly obligating the government and Ugandan citizens to pay a contractor approximately Shs3.3 trillion for the implementation of digital number plates. A key point of contention is the model’s assumption that each Ugandan would commit four traffic offenses annually, resulting in an estimated Shs800,000 in annual payments per person.

Lawmakers are seeking to understand the basis of these projections, who sanctioned them, and their implications for public finances and individual motorists. The committee aims to ensure accountability and protect the public from potentially unfair financial burdens.

“Parliament must protect the public from unfair financial burdens,” Mpaka emphasized, vowing to take parliamentary action if the ministry continues to evade scrutiny.

The committee is expected to table its findings before Parliament in the upcoming weeks.

Read more at: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/379011/finance-ministry-faces-contempt-threat-over-digital-number-plates-probe