Retiring Clerk to Parliament Mwesige Reminded Accountability Follows Him Out of Office

As Adolf Mwesige steps down from his role as the Clerk to Parliament, he has received a firm constitutional reminder regarding his lasting financial responsibilities. The Chairperson of the Committee on Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), Nkunyingi Muwada, emphasized that retirement does not erase accountability for public funds.

During an official engagement with the outgoing administrative leader, Muwada explicitly cited Article 164(2) of the Constitution. The provision states that any public or political officer who directs or concurs in the use of public funds remains personally accountable for any resulting losses. Crucially, this responsibility persists even after the individual has ceased to hold office.

Muwada described the message as a “constitutional goodbye” laden with ongoing responsibility. As an Accounting Officer, Mwesige’s tenure involved direct oversight of Parliament’s financial management, meaning his departure does not automatically extinguish potential liabilities or outstanding accountability queries from his time in office.

The COSASE chairperson wished Mwesige a peaceful retirement while maintaining that the parliamentary oversight committee will continue executing its duties neutrally and strictly according to the law. Article 164(2) serves as a critical safeguard within Uganda’s public financial management framework, ensuring that accountability for state resources outlasts the tenure of the individuals who handled them.

Read more details on the Nile Post.