Kampala — A PRIMARY school in Kamuli district has been receiving capitation grants for 450 ghost pupils since 2005, according to investigators from the education ministry and the Internal Security Organisation.

They found that Matuumu Primary School inflated its enrolment figures from 100 to 550 pupils.

The Government pays about sh3,500 per pupil per term under the UPE programme. This means that almost sh19m was paid to ghost pupils in only one school in four years.

The ministry has now asked the Inspectorate of Government to further investigate the matter with a view of establishing who is responsible.

"It is evident that somebody at that school or in the accounts section of Kamuli district has embezzled UPE funds. We would like to get to the root of the problem and bring the culprit to book," the letter says.

President Yoweri Museveni last month said the Government was setting up a judicial commission of inquiry into alleged mismanagement of funds for Universal Primary and Secondary Education.

He had received reports that government officials were stealing the funds by registering ghost students.

"Quite a lot of this money is being stolen by the officials who exaggerate numbers by inserting air. We are going to deal with them," he told Parliament after the reading of the budget speech.

"I have decided, therefore, to set up a judicial commission of inquiry into the UPE and USE funds which will help us unearth the truth. It will be beautiful to expose the rascals. The money recovered will be used to build roads, pay teachers and scientists."

The Kamuli investigation was carried out by Patrick Balyogera and John Achila, the assistant district internal security officer.

"The head-count revealed 42 pupils who attended school on the day of verification. The head teacher said parents had withdrawn their children to the neighbouring schools," the report says.

The figures from the school were different from those provided by the district education office.

"The district education office indicated an enrolment of 550 pupils. However, records at the school indicate the enrolment has never reached 100 and there are no facilities to accommodate such a big enrolment."

"The findings at Matuumu Primary School revealed a serious mismanagement problem in schools in the education system in Kamuli. Probably, figures of pupil enrolment and staffing are inflated to attract allocation of bigger UPE grants and salaries."

The ministry wants the Kamuli district education officer, Joseph Musoke, to explain the discrepancy and the head teacher, Kamaga Wabodha, probed.

It also wants other schools in the district investigated to check on ghost pupils, teachers and the management of UPE grants.