Kampala — UGANDA has improved in public accountability, the Speaker, Edward Ssekandi, has said.

But the perceptions about the misuse of public resources, he said, still remained a concern.

Speaking at the launch of the National Audit Act 2008 at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala on Friday, Ssekandi said auditing was an essential tool in good governance. The Act grants autonomy to the office of the Auditor General.

"Good governance and accountability create conditions that lift people out of poverty," Ssekandi said.

The undertaking of audits, he added, was an indispensable part of a government's regulatory system.

He said auditing revealed deviations from accepted standards and violations of the principles.

It also promotes efficiency, effectiveness and helps in financial management, Ssekandi added.

"It is also aimed at making those accountable accept responsibility and to make it difficult for such breaches to re-occur," Ssekandi said.

He noted the work of the Auditor General would always be needed, adding that democracy was achieved with the rule of law.

Ssekandi urged the Auditor General's office to look out for fraud and corruption and to advice on how to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public resources.

The Auditor General, John Muwanga, said his office had expanded the scope of auditing.

"Because of funding constraints and the absence of trained staff, the office had been unable to carry out such audits. However, we have now started value for money audits after graduating 25 staff. Another 25 are undergoing training with the support of donors," he said.

Muwanga said the office had embraced information and communication technology.

He said the regional offices were also linked using a network that enabled timely execution of audit activities.

The office, Muwanga added, had encouraged staff to obtain professional accountancy qualifications, with 62 members now qualified.

"This figure places the office as the largest single employer of accountants in Uganda," he said.