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Led by its Commandant, Col. Edith Nakalema, Officers from the State House Anti Corruption Unit held a meeting involving the State Minister in Charge of Animal Husbandry, Bright Rwamirama, NAGRIC staff and former staff to discuss the fraud allegations.
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The Statehouse
Anti-Corruption Unit stormed the National Animal Genetic Resources and
Information Center – NAGRIC in Entebbe municipality on Tuesday Evening to
investigate allegations of corruption and abuse of office. The unit is also
investigating claims that Dr. Charles Lagu, the NAGRIC Executive Director conspired
with junior staff to embezzle Shillings 17 billion.
Led by its Commandant, Col. Edith Nakalema, Officers from
the State House Anti Corruption Unit held a meeting involving the State Minister in Charge of Animal Husbandry,
Bright Rwamirama, NAGRIC staff and former staff to discuss the fraud
allegations.
The allegations include among others the flawed procurement
process that led to shoddy works involving the
construction of a hostel at Kasolwe stock farm by Joffer
Associates Ltd at Shillings 5.1 billion and a feed processing plant at
the same farm by Integrated Agritake Uganda Ltd valued at Shillings 2.9 billion.
The team is also investigating the construction of a cattle
shed at Rusenke farm by Jaiden Design constructions ltd at Shillings 1.2
billion and feeder road at Shillings 249 million among projects. The NAGRIC ED, Dr. Charles
Lagu is also accused of fraudulently selling off animals from government
ranches across the country valued at Shillings 616 million.
He also accuses of conniving
with other staff to defraud up to Shillings 7.2 billion in a botched
animal semen deal with an Italian company. During the meeting, Nakalema accused
Dr. Lagu of being hostile to the investigations, which has led to wastage of
time and resources of the Unit.
//Cue in: “To date, the
ED …
Cue out: … we involve everybody”//
She was supported by a
host of senior staff including the Deputy ED; Richard Kaguza, who openly
accused Dr. Lagu of incompetence, fueling tribalism and sectarianism in
the execution of his duties, which affected service delivery.
//Cue in: “Things begun to …
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Lagu, who took over as
NAGRIC ED in September 2017, is accused of witch-hunt, which has led to the
sacking of numerous staff. Isaac Sserwadda, an animal scientist at NAGRIC accused
Dr. Lagu of dropping several staffs because they share different views.
//Cue in: “ED’s mouth piece …
Cue out: … a single paper.”//
However, Dr. Lagu fought back denying any wrong doing, saying
he has a clean proven track record. He said some staff turned into whistle blowers
when he directed them to end all illicit activities including bribery, theft of
NAGRIC land and the absconding from duty.
//Cue in: “This is what …
Cue out: … intimidation of staff.”//
The unit will continue
with its investigations and issue a report on the findings.