The Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero, and Clet Masiga, the head of the Tropical Institute of Development Innovations (TRIDI), a private company implementing Uganda’s national silk production project, have clashed over the utilization of sh31.2 billion (Ugandan Shillings) received from the government.

The government had injected the funds into the project over four financial years starting from 2017/18. However, a parliamentary committee’s latest report revealed that over sh20.7 billion of the investment had gone to waste, with Masiga blaming the suspension of funding by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation in October 2022.

Minister Musenero refuted these claims, stating that the funding suspension was a result of interventions and not the cause of the loss. She demanded accountability from Masiga for the sh31.2 billion received for the project.

Masiga, on the other hand, blamed the Ministry for the project’s setbacks, citing disruptions caused by the suspension of funding. He asserted that the project had made progress, including producing a Ugandan silk brand called Usilk. He criticized the Ministry for suspending funding without suspending the project’s activities.

The dispute revolves around the utilization of funds and project progress, with both sides presenting their arguments and justifications for their actions.