The Electoral Commission (EC) has refuted reports which appeared in the Observer newspaper on September 16, suggesting that millions of savings by the staff couldn’t end up in smoke after two former officials refused to pay money they borrowed.
The newspaper claimed that Sam Rwakoojo and Jotham Taremwa took away shs 300 million from the SACCO at a time they resigned from the commission in July 2020.
EC has however, made it clear that no funds were taken by the two officials at a time of their departure.
Speaking to this website on Thursday night, the EC SACCO chairman Henry Makabayi scoffed at the Observer’s allegations wondering why the newspaper couldn’t seek clarification from him.
“I have lost trust in that paper. I always thought it was factual and truthful,” Mukabayi responded when interviewed.
He added: “the report is wrong, none of them owes the SACCO. That paper owes them an apology.”
He said that instead, it is vice versa…”Mr Rwakoojo and Taremwa don’t owe us money. In fact they have their savings in the SACCO and they have not taken it. And they are at liberty to pick it anytime they want.”
Asked how much savings, Mr Makabayi said the figures are confidential.
Before ending our call, Makabayi further clarified that the SACCO isn’t financially struggling as reported by the newspaper.
Paul Bukenya, the commission’s spokesperson told The Observer that Rwakoojo and Taremwa had no outstanding bill with the SACCO.
“They didn’t own the Sacco and got clearance before exiting…so, there is no reason to worry,” Bukenya is quoted by the newspaper.
The EC chairman Justice Simon Byabakama earlier Thursday told this website that he isn’t aware of this report. He said he would consult the acting secretary first.
