Officials ordered to recover lost NAADS money

By Francis Emorut

Special presidential assistant on National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS), Sr Grace Akiror, has demanded the recovery of sh50m stolen from the agency’s fund in Bududa district.

Preliminary reports from the State House NAADS Monitoring and Evaluation Unit who were on spot assessment in the district, showed that the money was embezzled in the financial years 2011/2012 and 2012/2013.

“Justice must prevail in Bududa and misuse of NAADs funds must stop. This is tantamount to sabotage of the programme which is uncalled for,” Akiror said.

She made the comments while addressing district leaders during a stakeholders meeting in Bududa recently.

Preliminary audit reports indicate that funds were misused through flouted procurement procedures, inflated cost of repair and purchase items, unaccounted funds for meetings, and travels, which never took place.

The presidential assistant cautioned the district officials to refrain from frustrating the project and concentrate on their roles.

“I am not going to mince any words. All those that will be implicated during the audit and monitoring will face tough action,” she said.

It is said infighting, political intrigue and delayed payment of suppliers have hampered the agency’s activities in the district, which in effect, has led to slow delivery of services to farmers in the district.

The funds were allegedly misappropriated during the tenure of the then-acting district NAADS coordinator, Simon Wadada. He denies the claims.

When contacted for a comment, Wadada said: “They are just framing me. For me I am a Catholic and I cannot do that.”

The State House NAADS monitoring unit was set up by President Yoweri Museveni to fight corruption in the agency’s programme.