Kampala — The gender ministry has asked Libyan president Muammar Gadaffi to clear a debt of sh2.6b for the Afro Arab Youth conference held in Kampala in 2008.

The Permanent Secretary, Christine Guwatudde, yesterday said the bill arose out of Gadaffi's request for extension of the conference for four more days so that he could present a paper.

She said the conference, which centred on peace and development, attracted over 2,000 delegates, causing the ministry to spend a lot.

Guwatudde was appearing before the public accounts committee to explain the increase in domestic arrears to sh7b in 2007/08 from sh5b in 2006/07. The Auditor General reported the rise in a report for the year ended June 30, 2008.

The ministry also attributed the increase to compensation for the Bundibugyo Ebola victims and contribution to international organisations.

Guwatudde said she wrote to the Permanent Secretary of the foreign affairs ministry, Ambassador James Mugume, to remind Gadaffi to pay the bills, but there was no response to that effect.

Gadaffi attended the AU summit in Kampala, which ended yesterday.

The MPs urged the ministry to remind Gadaffi of the debt since he was in the country.

Wamai Wamanga (FDC) criticised the ministry for sending a minister to Libya over the debt, saying it was wasteful expenditure.

The committee also queried the procedure of disposing of assets at the ministry. In one case, an 'old' Toyota Land Cruiser was sold at sh300,000 and a fork lifter at sh200,000.

The MPs told Guwatudde to provide details on the reserve price of the vehicles, names of members of the valuation committee and the bidders.

They also asked her to direct National Youth Council officials to refund sh163m for the youth conference within 60 days since they failed to account for it in time.

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