Summary:
- Muwanga Kivumbi, Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, expressed frustration, stating, “We are nearing another year’s end without the release of the report. This is grossly unfair to the country. The Auditor General must understand that by withholding the report, he is inadvertently contributing to the corruption crisis in our nation, fostering an environment of impunity.”
KAMPALA: Members of Parliament on the Public Accounts Committee have have accused the Auditor General John Muwanga of inadvertently perpetuating corruption in Uganda.
Their criticism stems from Muwanga’s delay in releasing the Shs39 billion special audit report concerning the misappropriation of iron sheets and goats designated for vulnerable communities in Karamoja, allegedly orchestrated by high-ranking government officials.
Muwanga Kivumbi, Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, expressed frustration, stating, “We are nearing another year’s end without the release of the report. This is grossly unfair to the country. The Auditor General must understand that by withholding the report, he is inadvertently contributing to the corruption crisis in our nation, fostering an environment of impunity.”
The accusations from Muwanga Kivumbi, the Butamala County Member of Parliament, came following revelations from officials within the Auditor General’s office that the completed special report on the iron sheets scandal remains in the possession of the Auditor General.
This revelation prompted Members of Parliament to question why the report has not been made public, especially considering the significant misuse of over Shs39 billion in public funds.
These concerns were raised during a meeting between the Committee and officials from the Office of the Prime Minister, held on Monday. It was disclosed that a portion of the allocated funds, amounting to Shs6.8 billion, was expended on travel allowances, fuel, and vehicle maintenance by officials from the Office of the Prime Minister. Additionally, despite the promise of distributing 16 goats per beneficiary, only one goat was allocated to each beneficiary.
The preliminary report released in December 2023 by the Auditor General highlighted various discrepancies. For instance, out of the Shs39 billion earmarked for the procurement and distribution of goats and iron sheets in Karamoja, Shs1.78 billion was spent on land travel, with a further Shs700 million on fuel, oil, and lubricants.
Moreover, the Office of the Prime Minister allocated Shs2.2 billion for land travel for monitoring purposes, while civil works for the maintenance of the Moroto regional office consumed Shs500 million, and the procurement of iron sheets cost Shs8.8 billion.
Muwanga Kivumbi expressed dismay at the allocation of funds, particularly highlighting the expenditure of Shs6.8 billion on workshops, seminars, and land travel, which deviated from the intended purpose of distributing goats.
He emphasized the urgency with which the funds were requested, questioning the misappropriation of a significant portion for purposes unrelated to the original project’s objectives.
