Entebbe officials on spot over unrecovered sh1.29bn women, youth funds
“We want evidence of collapsed enterprises, which you called disintegrated enterprises; give us also a handover schedule to successive votes. Also give us the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development’s guidance. Give us your further recovery plan with clear targets, outputs and expected outcomes. We also expect from you bank statements of those you gave money to,” Mudiobole ordered.“We expect this from the town clerk by Monday,” he stressed.
Nambooze further questioned how beneficiaries who had provided national identity card details could simply disappear without a trace. (Credit: Maria Wamala)
Entebbe Municipality officials have been ordered to provide evidence of efforts they have undertaken to recover Government empowerment funds.
Public Accounts Committee (Local Government) vice chairperson Abed Nasser Mudiobole issued the directive on August 27, 2026, during a meeting with municipality officials led by town clerk Emmanuel Mugisha Gacharo.
“We want evidence of collapsed enterprises, which you called disintegrated enterprises; give us also a handover schedule to successive votes. Also give us the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development’s guidance. Give us your further recovery plan with clear targets, outputs and expected outcomes. We also expect from you bank statements of those you gave money to,” Mudiobole ordered.
“We expect this from the town clerk by Monday,” he stressed.
Auditor General findings
He added that none of the outstanding balances from previous years had been recovered during the year under review.
In response, officials present said the majority of beneficiary groups that received the funds had since disbanded and could no longer be traced, while other supported enterprises had collapsed.
Officials also explained that some funds had been disbursed to YLP groups in administrative units that were later absorbed into newly created local government votes, making recovery difficult due to changes in jurisdictions.
They said they had issued notices to groups they could trace.
MPs react
However, MPs, including Betty Nambooze Bakireke (Mukono Municipality, NUP), contended that the municipality’s explanations were mere excuses and that officials had failed to perform their duty.
“By the time you issue a group with a certificate of registration, you should have first visited them, got their address,” Nambooze pointed out.
“Did you do your due diligence when you were recommending these groups to the Ministry?” she inquired.
Nambooze further questioned how beneficiaries who had provided national identity card details could simply disappear without a trace.
“Next time when you come back, be in charge. The Ministry of Gender has produced a list of each and every group that benefited. How much money they have paid and haven’t. It is not true that you do not know these people and cannot trace them. Personally, I have a list of all people in Fort Portal,” said Linda Irene Mugisa (Fort Portal City Woman MP).
What irked the MPs even more was the town clerk’s constant referral of questions to other officials, which some lawmakers described as an attempt to evade responsibility.
“With your permission, I beg your indulgence to allow us to do that disaggregation and we bring other information,” Mugisha pleaded.