The Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) has summoned counsel Patrick Kiconco Katabaazi of Pathways Advocates to appear before court next week on August 15, 2023, over claims of embezzling Shs39 billion meant to pay off tea-growing farmers from National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS).
According to the Auditor General’s report on the financial statements for FY 2021–2022, NAADS advanced Shs39 billion to Pathways Advocates to compensate tea nursery operators who had sued the government for failing to procure their seedlings, hence incurring losses that the government later settled by compensation.
Hon. Lucy Akello, the committee’s vice chairperson, said that some farmers claim that they have never received their payments from Pathway Advocates, whom they hired to defend them in court over their compensation.
“Without fail, we will specifically meet Kiconco, and he should come with the list of beneficiaries, their bank details, the amount of funds each farmer received, and the National Identification Numbers,” Akello said.
Akello also accused NAADS of being hesitant to ensure accountability for funding obtained through Pathways Advocates.
This was in response to the NAADS Executive Director’s failure to appear for a meeting with COSASE and instead sending a representative who lacked clear information about tea farmers’ compensation on Thursday, August 10, 2023.
