We Agreed With Akullo To Postpone Meeting – Bigirimana

The Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Pius Bigiriman has distanced himself from media reports alleging that he refused to meet the Police for questioning.

Speaking to Red Pepper in an exclusive Phone interview, Bigirimana said they agreed with Criminal Investigations and Inteligence Directorate boss Grace Akullo that the meeting be postponed because senior staff in the OPM in whose custody were important documents had travelled upcountry for the festive season.

“I told madam Akullo that since the procurement officials were upcountry enjoying Christmas, I found it vital that we postpone the meeting and wait for them because they have the documents which show the prices of the cars purchased” Bigirimana said.

Bigirimana was last week expected to meet the Police at his office on Postel Building for questioning over Shs1.8 billion donor funds that was diverted to purchase cars for officials in the OPM.

The PS said he was surprised with the reports damaging his image even though he had agreed with Akullo that the meeting be postponed.

“I don’t know why a group of people would insincerely try to smear my image; I agreed with Akullo but the following day you see a totally different story in the media, why would people do that? He asked.

On October 4, 2011, Bigirimana proposed the purchase of eight vehicles from M/s Spear Motors Ltd and M/s Toyota Uganda Ltd for the new ministers J.B.R Suuza, signing for the Solicitor General, replied October 14 2011 confirming that the transaction had been transparent and cleared for signature.

The Office of the Prime Minister has under the spot light after the Auditor General’s investiigations revealed that an estimated Shs 50 billion had been mismanaged. The money was meant for the rehabilitation process of Northern Uganda that is trying to recover from more than two decades of war.

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