The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development is in the land scandal

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development is in the eye of a storm once again after he was found to have unlawfully acquired UGX500m from government’s Land Fund to secure 124 acres of land to set up a farm in Luwero district.

This was revealed this morning during his appearance before the Justice Catherine Bamugemereire inquest in land matters where it was also found that Bigirimana was helped by embattled minister Betty Amongi to secure the money.

Pius Bigirimana, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender and Social Development was transferred to the Judiciary as the PS effective July, 2019. Bigirimana replaced Kagole Kivumbi who was sent on forced leave.

In a letter that day, Dr John Mitala, the head of public service, said that the appointing authority, who is President Yoweri Museveni, had directed that Bigirimana be transferred from Ministry of Gender to the Judiciary with immediate effect.

“On receipt of this letter, prepare to hand over your office within the existing regulations and report to your station without delay,” Mitala wrote.

This month, Kivumbi has been in the middle of the heat with Parliament Accounts Committee (PAC) to explain queries from the auditor general question some money spent in the judiciary.

One of the queries was how the construction of two flush toilets came to cost 450  million Shillings. One was the lavatory constructed at the Chief Justice Bart Katureebe’s home at 13 million Shillings by Palwan Engineering Works Limited, while the second was constructed at the Entebbe Chief Magistrates court by Platinum Engineering Limited at 436 million Shillings.