MPs roast IG Kanja for blocking access to payroll, orders him to surrender document

MPs yesterday came out guns blazing against Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, accusing him of breaching the law by denying National Police Service Commission access to critical documents. 

The commission had sought the document to facilitate audit process.

The National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee expressed outrage over Kanja’s alleged insubordination, terming it a blatant violation of the law and a threat to transparency in the management of police welfare.

The committee, chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale, ordered the police boss to immediately surrender full access to the payroll system to the NPSC.

“We want you to handover all the HR functions including payroll management as soon as you reach the office,” Mwale directed the police chief.

Kanja was appearing before the oversight committee alongside the commission’s CEO Peter Lelei to respond to reports by the Auditor General that the agency was denied access of the payroll.

Ideally, it is the commission, which is constitutionally mandated to manage human resources within the National Police Service.

PAC chairman also directed Lelei to furnish the committee on whether the NPSC complies with the directive.

“The CEO will write back to confirm to the committee if there is compliance. The two of you will then come back in two weeks to confirm.”

Mwale further warned Kanja against going breaching the law, warning the move could land him in trouble.

“Some of these functions can land you in trouble especially if they are not yours,” Kanja warned.

MPs, visibly agitated, questioned what Kanja could be hiding and demanded that he be thrown out of the committee.

Aldai MP Maryanne Kitany called for action against the police boss, accusing him of perpetuating a culture of impunity within the service.

“I wonder whether we should have the Inspector General of Police sited here and contravening the constitution,” Kitany said.

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera read mischief in the decision of NPS to block the commission from the payroll claiming there is more than meets the eye.

“What is in this payroll that is hidden from the employer (NPSC)? Where on earth can you deny your employer an access to data?” Nabii said. “We are dealing with an integrity issue.”

Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo said the decision of the NPS negates the letter and spirit of the constitution.

NPSC chief executive, who appeared before the committee earlier, lamented that the commission’s oversight functions were being frustrated, undermining efforts to streamline operations within the service.

“For the issues requested, I have not been presented with the documents that I requested,” Lelei told the committee.

On his part, Kanja committed to comply with PAC’s directive even as he downplayed any cold blood with the commission.

Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli accompanied Kanja.

Last week, NPSC pleaded with MPs to summon Kanja to explain why the NPS does not want to release the payroll to the commission for audit.

“We had difficulty accessing the payroll for audit to determine the implementation status of the NPSC policies and resolutions,” Lelei said.