The Auditor General (AG) has highlighted irregularities in the agriculture services extension in Uganda, citing mismanagement of funds and non-existent activities.

In a report highlighting audit issues presented to the Public Accounts Committee (Central), on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, AG revealed that billions of shillings have been misappropriated in the sector.

Engineering audit on a selected sample of infrastructure projects implemented by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and agriculture ministry (MAAIF) in financial years 2020/2021 and 2022/2023 indicated delays ranging from 30 to 480 days in completion of the works on 17 out of 29 projects audited.

During the audit year (2022/2023), AG conducted technical engineering audits on a sample of 29 projects with a total contract sum of shillings 36.824 billion comprising of 15 projects implemented by the OPM under the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP) and Busoga Portfolio, and 14 projects implemented by MAAIF under the Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP).

AG found out that over payments equivalent to shillings 1.748 billion were made on the projects due to differences between the works quantities certified and those executed by the contractors.

Irregular payments equivalent to shillings 1.520 billion arising from payments without the necessary supporting documentation, payments outside contract provisions, payment for works that do not meet specifications as well as payments for unexecuted works were noted.

According to James Bantu, the director forensics, and IT investigations in AG’s office, said while presenting the report that ACDP project, part of Kamwenge district project, the performance guarantees for other 13 works projects expired prior to completion of the works contrary to the contract requirements.

The report also highlighted omissions in the design processes and designs prepared for the different infrastructure. In addition, geotechnical investigations and detailed designs were not conducted for bridge and road works chokes under the ACDP Programme.

The AG's report has come as a blow to the Government, which has been touting agriculture as a key driver of economic growth.

The chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (Central), Muwanga Kivumbi Muhammad (Butambala County, NUP), noted that the committee is going to hold a retreat to discuss the audit issues.

“We are going to have a retreat where most of those details will be flashed. But the purpose of this meeting is majorly to introduce the audit report as it is. The details will be discussed during the retreat,” he said.

Fishing sector issues

The report highlighted that on Lake Victoria, 25 per cent of the fishers were using illegal gears and 76 per cent of vessels and fishers remain unlicensed in spite of enforcement efforts.

It highlighted weaknesses in licensing of fishing vessels, fishing gear and fishers. Fisheries data from districts remained scattered, and the e-licensing system was plagued by frequent breakdowns.

The directorate has not implemented any mobile licensing initiatives or fishing training programmes on how to use the e-licensing system, among other weaknesses.

Weak co-ordination mechanism with key stakeholders was underlined, as there was no co-ordination mechanism at the national or local level with key stakeholders such as the Fisheries Protection Unit, the Uganda Revenue Authority and local governments to effectively curb the influx of illegal fishing gear or mobilise fishing communities for sensitisation.

Contrary to the requirement to conduct farmer surveys every two years, the Directorate of Fisheries Resources last conducted those for all major lakes in Uganda in 2016, except Lake Victoria that was done in 2021.