parliament 3 September 2026 Parliament of Uganda
Forensic Audit Demanded for Shs3.49 Trillion Contingent Liabilities
Uganda's Parliament Public Accounts Committee (Central) is calling for a forensic audit into the government's Shs3.49 trillion in contingent liabilities, citing concerns of potential collusion and double-counting of court case exposures. Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/4600/pac-central-calls-forensic-audit-shs349-trillion-contingent-liabilities
The Public Accounts Committee (Central) has demanded a comprehensive forensic audit of Uganda’s substantial contingent liabilities, currently estimated at Shs3.49 trillion. This call follows serious allegations of connivance and potential double recording of court cases within the Ministry of Justice and other government bodies.
During a meeting with Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs officials, led by Permanent Secretary Robert Kasande, committee members expressed alarm at the significant increase in these potential financial obligations. They questioned why such vast sums are at risk when the ministry employs numerous lawyers to defend the state.
Concerns were raised by Kasese Municipality MP, Hon. Ferigo Kambale, who suggested that some cases might be lost due to alleged collusion between government officials and claimants. He pressed for greater transparency and scrutiny in how these legal battles are managed.
PS Kasande explained that the Ministry of Justice’s role is to defend the government, and that the majority of these liabilities stem from cases involving other ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). He noted that successful defenses have already saved the government over Shs4.4 trillion.
Committee Chairperson, Hon. Patrick Oshabe, highlighted the risk of double-counting liabilities, especially when cases against entities like the police or Parliament are initially filed against the Attorney General. He indicated that the Auditor General would likely be tasked with a special audit to investigate these discrepancies.
The committee has instructed the Ministry of Justice to provide a detailed breakdown of all cases contributing to the Shs3.49 trillion exposure. This includes identifying the specific entities involved, the current status of each case, and the measures being implemented to mitigate further financial losses. The ministry must also clarify if any of these liabilities have been recorded or budgeted for multiple times across different government institutions.