Parliament’s committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has halted its interface with the leadership of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) after MPs questioned whether the officials appearing before them had the legal mandate to represent the institution.
The committee, chaired by Kyadondo East MP Muwada Nkunyingi, had summoned URSB officials to respond to queries raised in the Auditor General’s report.
The URSB team was led by acting Registrar General Mustapha Ntale. However, the hearing was interrupted after MPs raised concerns about the leadership structure at the bureau following the interdiction of former Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) over alleged corruption-related matters.
The MPs questioned whether the acting leadership could properly answer for URSB as an accounting officer in the absence of a substantive Registrar General with a clear legal mandate.
Lugazi Municipality MP Richard Ssenteza said the committee could not proceed with the hearing without first establishing who was legally authorised to account for the URSB vote.
“The law does not act retrospectively. It is very clear and straight that there is no accounting officer and we should not proceed,” Ssenteza said.
Bamunanika County MP Robert Ssekitooleko also questioned Ntale directly on whether he had the authority to conduct official transactions on behalf of URSB.
“Do you have the legal mandate to transact on behalf of the vote?” Ssekitooleko asked.
The concerns arose as the committee examined several issues raised by the Auditor General concerning the operations and financial management of URSB.
Among the matters under scrutiny were records suggesting that some assets, including chairs and motor vehicles, appeared to have been used before the dates on which they were officially purchased.
The MPs also questioned discrepancies involving tax revenue records which the Auditor General reportedly could not trace, as well as the use of government logos that had not been formally gazetted.
The committee wanted URSB officials to explain how such transactions and assets were handled and who had authority to approve them.
However, before the MPs could proceed with the substantive audit queries, Nkunyingi ruled that the committee could not continue until the leadership issue had been clarified.
“We are unable to proceed with you on the matter of the Auditor General because the law allows us to interface with the accounting officer,” Nkunyingi said.
He directed the URSB officials to return before the committee the following week with key documents to clarify the institution’s leadership and the authority of those currently running it.
The development comes as URSB remains under investigation by the Inspectorate of Government.
The presence of the IGG at URSB also became a subject of discussion during the hearing, with MPs questioning whether the ongoing investigations were affecting the confidence and performance of staff.
Nkunyingi asked Ntale whether the continued presence of investigators at the institution was creating fear among employees.
“Now that the IGG sits in your office every day, are you scared? Are you working at your full potential?” Nkunyingi asked.
Ntale told the committee that the bureau was continuing to operate normally and was cooperating with the investigations.
“We are working well and supporting the investigations,” Ntale said.
The committee is expected to resume its examination of URSB after the bureau returns with the documents requested by the MPs.
