By George Bukenya
A group of opposition Democratic Party (DP) under their pressure body called DP at Heart has petitioned the Inspector General of Government (IGG) seeking for her intervention in the alleged corruption case in their party.
In a press briefing held at Makerere Kivvulu based Bativa Hotel, they revealed to reporters that corruption scandals within the party are stinking and have caused significant loss to the party.
The UYD President who leads the pressure group said that the party’s reigning executive apart from swindling funds, they have also gone ahead to sell the party assets such as the printing machine without approval by the high ranking party organ. He said the machine that cost the party over UGX 300 million was procured with a primary objective of printing posters for their candidates during election periods and also earns income to the party.
“ Moa and his Executive members misappropriated party funds during the National elective Delegates Conference held in Mbarara last year that was marred by wide spread violence, fraud, chaos ,and poor organization, ‘’ Kirya said.
He also alleged that during the delegates conference, the party allocated hundreds of millions of shillings towards accommodation, meals and welfare for attends but such services were never rendered to the majority of delegates ate slept in the tent and provides themselves with meals for the three days.
“ The accountability documents and receipts were forged to conceal the diversion of funds, such actions tantamount to embezzlement, false accounting, causing financial loss, and abuse of office under the Anti-Corruption Act,’’ he said.
The DP Spokesperson for Lubaga District Julius Ddumba said that court in Mbarara directed the National Electoral Commission to resolve the queries raised by the Democratic Party members against their executive following a court’s petition by the pressure group called DP at Heart.
“ Our President has amassed a lot of wealth within a short period of time. This also informed us as a pressure group to interest the IGG into carrying out the life style audit to our leaders especially Hon. Norbert Mao, Hon. Dr. Gerald Siranda and the treasurer,’’ Ddumba said.
He also attacked Mukasa Mbidde alleging that he has no moral authority to criticize Mao because he also aided and abetted in concealing of the democrat process as opposed to the party norms and culture when electing new leaders.
On Mbidde using media to fight his boss, Ddumba links this to failure to share what they stole from the party coffers evenly.
“ If Mukasa Mbidde has repented, he should come and join our group such that we make processes of rejuvenating and restructuring of our party but he should first denounce such undemocratic acts.’’