Virus Research Institute seeks 5Bn for compensating squatters

The Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu has appealed for an additional 5 billion funds in the forthcoming fiscal year.

He made the plea on Wednesday May 29, 2024 while appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC/Central) chaired by Gorett Namugga (Mawogola South, NUP). At the time, MPs were discussing Auditor General (AG) John Muwanga’s 2022/23 Financial Year (FY) report on the entity.

According to Kaleebu, the money in question is poised at compensating five families currently squatting on the entity’s three square land before the land value appreciates. It is understood that UVRI acquired the said land in 1960 from natives, many of whom have since passed on.

PAC vice chairperson Gorett Namugga, promised to pursue the matter with relevant authorities.

Contracts

During the same hearing, Uganda Virus Research Institute also asked the parliamentary committee to engage the Solicitor General’s office on hastening approval of contracts. As it is, Kaleebu intimated that the country risks losing its service trajectory as far as construction of facilities is concerned as a consequence of red tape.

“We appeal that moving forward if all documents are provided to the solicitor general we get responses quickly, because we, as accounting officers, want to do good. You feel bad about returning money to the consolidated fund because you have put up a budget, you have your needs, so as time goes on, we get a lot of pressure. You want to implement, but you don’t have yet the approval from the solicitor general,’’ said Prof. Kaleebu.

That said, Kaleebu also revealed that the virus research institute is looking to address the human resources gap by increasing staffing.

He mentioned the need to recruit more scientists. The Uganda Virus Research Institute is considered one of the leading institutions in Africa in health research about human infections and disease processes associated with or linked to viral causes. It provides expert advice, enables partnerships and communication, and serves as a center for training and education. ///ENDS