Following the Agriculture Minister’s orders, National Animal Genetic Resource Centre and Data Bank (NAGRIC & DB) board of directors has Wednesday selected Dr. Anthony Ntaate for assignment of duties of executive director as an interim measure.
Ntaate’s interim appointment follows interdiction of Dr Charles Lagu from duty until determination of criminal charges against him.
The Minister of Agriculture Vincent Ssempijja who oversees NAGRC on 6th May interdicted Dr Lagu having been jailed on cases of abuse of office, obtaining money by false pretense, causing financial loss to government and conspiracy to defraud.
Ssempijja cited the gravity of the offences and Public Service Standing Orders.
“Considering the gravity of the alleged offences against you and in line with Section F-s. 8 of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders, I have decided to interdict you from duty with immediate effect, to pave way for investigations to take place unhindered,” the interdiction letter read.
Lagu had jointly been arraigned before Court at Makindye with his juniors; Mr Philip Ezekiel Mukani, the procurement officer, Olivious Komujuni (Animal Husbandry officer) and the director of private firm; Nuruma Holdings Ltd, Mr Emmanuel Kafute Rumanzi and remanded to Kitalya prison.
Within his powers the Minister also directed the NAGRC &DB board of directors to identify a senior official to conduct duties of the ED.
On Wednesday, the board led by the Chairman John Nkuuhe chose Dr Ntate a senior official at the agency to temporarily take over office as Lagu’s battles cases against him.
While away Dr Lagu will receive half of his monthly salary and will not access NAGRC & DB premises without the minister’s express clearance.
Lagu is not even allowed travel out of the country without permission.
NAGRC board chairman Nkuuhe when contacted confirmed the appointment but didn’t divulge details saying he is in a meeting.
Contention
Following the Minister’s interdiction letter, a clique of lawyers purportedly representing Charles Lagu issued a letter threatening Ssempijja that his decision was illegal and needed to retract it before it backfires.
But according to Uganda Public Service Standing Orders an interdiction should occur while an investigation over a particular misconduct is being carried out.
Secondly Ministries are responsible for controlling semi-autonomous agencies. For example, the Minister of Finance directly supervises the operations and appointments of NSSF top management.
The same applies to Ministry of Agriculture and NAGRC.
So the narrative peddled by Lagu’s legal advisors is unformed view aiming at misleading the public.
Cases
The State alleges that on October 15, 2018 at NAGRC in Entebbe, Wakiso District, Dr Lagu in abuse of the authority of his office did with an arbitrary act prejudicial to the interests of his employer authorised an order in favour of Nuruma Holdings Ltd for the supply and delivery of 1,000 Kilogrammes and 600Kgs of Chloris Gayana to Nshara Ranch and Sanga Field Station respectively worth Shs54.4m without request and confirmation of need from the said field farms.
Other alleged procurement processes were done on January 8, 2019, October 15, 2018 and December 2018.
Further Lagu is being investigated for trying to divert funds totaling to shs 1.4 billion which Ministry of Finance has since blocked and investigations launched by CID under police file number GEF/057/2020 along with State House Anti-Corruption Unit which had initially arrested him.
