UPE funds lost

By Alfred WasikeTHE Government is investigating suspected massive losses of money meant for the construction of classrooms and other facilities for the six-year-old Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme. Uganda and foreign donors have injected more than sh40b into UPE, raising the enrolment of children from 2.7 million to 6.7 million. Thirty-one percent (31%) of Uganda’s recurrent and capital development is spent on education. Of this, 67% is spent on UPE. It is disbursed through the decentralisation system to the district councils who decide where to build the schools.The Minister for Primary Education, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, yesterday revealed that the financial losses take place through fraudulent tendering and interference in the tendering process by district leaders. “Despite our successes which have earned us international respect in the struggle to wipe out poverty and illiteracy, the tendering process is not well managed. We suspect that we are losing a lot of funds through improper tendering and interfering. This is serious,” Bitamazire told the media during the weekly President’s Office briefing.Bitamazire said her ministry had asked the districts to send the list of all the contractors. “We can’t reveal any figures at this moment. But we have demanded for the list of the contractors. We are also upset that district leaders are not declaring their interests in these matters,” she said.This week’s briefing was coordinated by information minister Basoga Nsadhu and President Yoweri Museveni’s press secretary, Mary Okurut.