KAMPALA — The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (Central) has called for a forensic audit of government’s Shs3.49 trillion contingent liabilities following concerns over possible double recording, duplicate budgeting and alleged collusion in some cases involving government entities.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Patrick Oshabe, made the call on Thursday, September 3, 2026, when officials from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, led by Permanent Secretary Robert Kasande, appeared before the committee to respond to a query raised by the Auditor General regarding the government’s contingent liabilities.
Committee members questioned the sharp increase in the liabilities despite the Ministry of Justice having lawyers mandated to defend government in court.
A contingent liability is a potential financial obligation arising from a past lawsuit, dispute or investigation, whose final financial impact depends on an uncertain future event.
Kasese Municipality MP, Hon. Ferigo Kambale, raised concerns that some cases involving government could be lost due to alleged collusion between government officials and claimants, calling for greater scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding such losses.
“How do you foresee losing cases to a loss that will come to us to a tune of Shs3.4 trillion?” Kambale asked, while demanding a detailed list of the cases underpinning the reported exposure.
However, Kasande explained that the Ministry of Justice does not determine the outcome of court cases and said the bulk of the contingent liabilities arise from cases involving other government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
He said the ministry’s mandate is to represent and defend government in court, adding that successful legal representation had helped save government more than Shs4.4 trillion in potential financial losses.
“99 per cent of these liabilities come from other ministries, departments and agencies. Our role is to go to court and defend government,” Kasande said.
He explained that the reported liabilities arise from a wide range of cases before domestic courts, international arbitration tribunals, the East African Court of Justice and other regional jurisdictions.
Oshabe, however, questioned whether some of the liabilities could have been recorded more than once, particularly in cases where claims against institutions such as the Uganda Police Force, Parliament and the Electoral Commission are initially filed against the Attorney General.
“An effort needs to be done to ensure that there is no double recording. I think the Auditor General will be required to do a special audit on these contingent liabilities. We will see how to make a recommendation about that,” Oshabe said.
The committee directed the Ministry of Justice to submit a comprehensive schedule of all cases contributing to the Shs3.49 trillion exposure.
The schedule is expected to indicate the entities involved, the status of each case, the amounts claimed, the potential government exposure and measures being taken to minimise further financial losses.
The committee also tasked the ministry with clarifying whether any of the liabilities had been recorded or budgeted for more than once by the Ministry of Justice and other government entities.
The proposed forensic audit is expected to establish the accuracy of the reported liabilities, identify any cases of duplication or irregular recording and provide Parliament with a clearer picture of government’s potential financial exposure arising from litigation.
The post MPs Demand Forensic Audit of Shs3.49 Trillion Government Contingent Liabilities appeared first on Watchdog Uganda.