Ecweru recommends sacking of head of World Bank project in OPM

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The State Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Musa Ecweru recommended the replacement of Charles Bafaki, the head of the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project –DRDIP in the Office of the Prime Minister-OPM in 2019 citing a tainted image, URN has learnt.

In his December 3rd, 2019 letter to Christine Guwatudde Kintu, the Permanent Secretary in OPM, Ecweru noted that Bafaki wasn’t suitable to manage the World Bank funded Development Response to Displacement Impact Project because of his tainted profile.

“The IGG investigations have confirmed that there was theft of public funds in the procurement of Block 2, plot 253, Old Kampala. The IGG in her letter to you dated 4th December 2018, found Mr. Charles Bafaki culpable among other officers namely Kateregga John and Mr. Twesigye Stephen,” Ecweru’s letter reads in part.

Ecweru expressed disappointment in his letter instead of being interdicted basing on the IGG’s findings, Bafaki was elevated to head DRDIP. “To date, Mr. Bafaki has instead been promoted to head Development Response to Displacement Impact Project-DRDIP, a very critical World Bank gunded project meant to alleviate the suffering not only from refugees but also host communities in our country,” he wrote.

Bafaki couldn’t be reached for comment as he neither picked nor returned calls from our reporter. The OPM spokesperson, Julius Mucunguzi told Uganda Radio Network –URN that Bafaki’s contract in DRDIP had ended but wasn’t sure whether it was renewed.

Ecweru tasks the PS to appoint a suitable manager for the project and swiftly remove Bafaki in order to protect DRDIP funds. “The purpose of this note, Permanent Secretary is to direct that you immediately find a suitable officer to manage DRDIP programme and Mr Bafaki be removed from this programme with immediate effect. Mr. Bafaki must never handle land matters in the disaster and refugee docket again since his name appears in numerous land scandals in various reports,” stated Ecweru.

Guwatudde is on interdiction for mishandling the procurement of relief food meant for vulnerable people during the lockdown. Ecweru’s letter was copied to the Prime Minister, Min of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Principle Private Secretary to President Yoweri Museveni, Head of Public Service, UN Resident Coordinator, UNHCR Country Representative and LCV Chairperson of Refugee hosting districts.

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URN