On February 26, 2021, Dr Monica Musenero who acted (then) as senior presidential advisor on epidemics and also chairperson Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics (PRESIDE) wrote to Permanent Secretary Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)David Obong
In her communication, Musenero highlighted five points in relation to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry and PRESIDE.
The ministry had been tasked to manage the funding of the innovations hub and provide an accountability report required in the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) of 2015 and the 1995 constitution of the republic of Uganda.
As such it was expected that the Ministry’s finance management functions would include: Training the scientists (and PRESIDE) in the expected Finance Management standards.
The ministry as per the MOU would also provide Finance Management SOPS to guide the scientists and to form the basis upon which monitoring and final evaluation measurements will be based.
Also make periodic visits to examine the accounts for adherence to the guidelines so that we can be assured of a clean accountability and further alert PRESIDE of any financial management issues with specific scientists and recommended actions so that PRESIDE can follow up or provide technical support.
However, there was no action undertaken by the Ministry towards that direction.
Musenero reminded the Permanent Secretary that the PRESIDE model was new, and most scientists were receiving governments research funds for the first time and thus may not have been familiar with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
However, PS Obong who would later be sacked by the President together with his ally Minister Elioda Tumwesigye before appointing Musenero, refused to collaborate and comply with the MOU guidelines.
Against that backdrop, Musenero was compelled to write another letter in April 2021 to David Obong expressing concerns why she had never received any responses about accountability.
“Reference is made to my email (refer to attached copy) dated 26 February 2021 to you on the above subject. In that email, reference was made to the MOU between MOSTI and PRESIDE, Section 4.5 which states that MOSTI shall manage the funding and provide a report as provided for in the accountability provided for in the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) 2015 and the 1995 constitution of the republic of Uganda,” she said.
She added, “to-date, I have not received any response from you regarding the above request. This letter therefore comes to request for your response towards the raised issues to enable PRESIDE better support the projects.”
In her letter, she copied in the Minister Elioda Tumwesigye who also never bothered to do the needful.
The letter, therefore exhibits Minister Musenero’s efforts to have proper accountability for PRESIDE funds contrary to the hullabaloo by a section of lawmakers that she has failed to account for the projects’ funds.
