4 November 2008
Kampala — LOCAL government state minister Hope Mwesige has asked Mukono district to account for sh1.8b excess expenditure, writes Joel Ogwang.
In a September 25 letter to the district LC5 chief, Francis Lukooya, Mwesige said the money was spent in violation of budget controls and without seeking the relevant authority in accordance with the Local Government Act.
Reacting to the Auditor General's (AG) report for the 2005/06 financial year, Mwesige noted that sh305.9m that was supposed to be transferred to schools was, instead, diverted and spent at the district headquarters.
"Expenditure amounting to sh262.2m had no payment vouchers. The purpose and genuineness of the payment couldn't be established while school desks and water tank worth sh54m had no evidence of delivery," she noted.
In the letter, also copied to Mukono resident district commissioner Deo Matovu, the district public accounts committee chairperson, Patrick Luganda and the chief administrative officer, Eustance Gakwandi, Mwesige said sh119.9m in capitation grants intended for government-aided secondary schools was not accounted.
The minister said she, on February 14, received a letter from the AG, also addressed to the finance and local government ministers, regarding the report on the final accounts of the district council for the 2005/06 fiscal year.
"The report raises some issues which impact on the Government's efforts to improve public financial management, ensure good governance, accountability and elimination of corruption at all levels including local governments," she said.
Mwesige asked Lukooya to ensure the AG's report is submitted to the district public accounts committee for consideration and thereafter appropriate action taken on its recommendations "sooner than later".
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