More than Shs11 billion meant to pay outstanding salary arrears for teachers and nurses in various districts has mysteriously gone missing, Parliament heard yesterday.

During a stormy Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee meeting, some district chief administrative officers (Caos) narrowly survived arrest for failure to account for missing billions. "We have discovered that from 2004 to date about Shs11 billion meant for teachers and nurses salaries is missing through unclear circumstances and as a committee we want this money refunded as a matter of urgency," said Kawempe South MP Ssebuliba Mutumba (DP) who chaired the meeting.

"Teachers and nurses get peanuts yet their salaries are being stolen with impunity," he added. Reports of missing salaries directly daunt the government drive to stamp out payments to nonexistent employees after it emerged last year that the new impetus had saved the impoverished country $1 million per month.

In particular, Iganga Cao Yiga Mukasa, was among other district leaders who came under fire over the said funds. Others include that of Kampala City Council, Kotido, Kiboga and Soroti among others.

Mr Mukasa was almost arrested on allegations of fraud and attempt to hoodwink the committee members on matters of accountability.

Trouble began after he requested for more time to explain what happened to salaries amounting over Shs316 million.

But Ntenjeru South MP, Tom Kazibwe said, "We cannot accept such a pedestrian answer from this Cao when teachers and nurses are suffering. You stole their salaries and we are going to arrest you until you give us the accountability."

The Committee scrutiny of the Auditor General's finding for the years ended 2003/4 to 2006/07 shows that, teachers and nurses salaries advanced to districts have remained outstanding for years and the rot continues with impunity after the Ministry of Finance failed to secure accountabilities in question.

Delving into the details, the AG reports show that in one financial year, 2003/04, about Shs5 billion was never accounted for. "You can see the extent of the problem is nasty, that's why we have ordered the Auditor General to cross-check and bring a list of culprits as a matter of urgency," Mr Ssebuliba said. "This is so because we only have a lamp sum figure with a few districts named," he added.