The Public Accounts Committee (Central) has called for a forensic audit of government’s Shs3.49 trillion contingent liabilities following allegations of connivance, as well as possible double recording and budgeting for the same court cases by the Ministry of Justice and other government entities.
The call was made as the committee chaired by Hon. Patrick Oshabe met officials from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs led by the Permanent Secretary, Robert Kasande on Thursday, 03 September 2026.
The officials appeared to respond to a query by the Auditor General on the Shs3.49 trillion contingent liabilities.
The committee members questioned the sharp increase in contingent liabilities despite the Ministry of Justice having a number of lawyers mandated to defend government in court.
A contingent liability is a potential financial obligation arising from a past lawsuit, dispute, or investigation where the final cost and outcome depend on an uncertain future event.
Kasese Municipality MP, Hon. Ferigo Kambale submitted that some court cases involving government are lost through alleged connivance between government officials and claimants, calling for greater scrutiny of how the cases are handled.
Kambale wondered why a ministry responsible for defending government in court is facing potential liabilities of such magnitude.
“How do you foresee losing cases to a loss that will come to us to a tune of Shs 3.4 trillion?” he asked demanding a list of the cases behind the figure.
However, Permanent Secretary Kasande said the ministry does not determine court outcomes and explained that most of the liabilities arise from cases involving other government entities.
Kasande said the ministry’s role is to defend government in court and noted that successful legal defence had saved government more than Shs4.4 trillion.
Kasande added that the majority of the liabilities originated from other ministries, departments and agencies, which the Attorney General’s chambers represent in court.
“99 per cent of these liabilities come from other ministries, departments and agencies. Our role is to go to court and defend government,” he said.
He stated some of the liabilities included cases before domestic courts, international arbitration, the East African Court of Justice and other regional jurisdictions.
Oshabe wondered whether contingent liabilities were not being double counted because cases against institutions such as police, 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,” he added.
Oshabe directed the ministry to provide a detailed schedule of all cases making up the Shs3.49 trillion exposure, including the entities involved, the status of each case and measures being taken to prevent further losses.
The committee also wants the ministry to clarify whether any of the liabilities have been recorded or budgeted for more than once by the Ministry of Justice and other government entities.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
