Education ministry officials pinned over funds meant for Kamuli schools

The deputy IGG, Mariam Wangadya has directed some officials from the education ministry to refund money which was meant for monitoring construction of schools in Kamuli, which activity they allegedly did not undertake.

This is contained in the November 2017 Inspectorate of Government (IG) report on "alleged mismanagement of emergency construction programme for schools in Kamuli district."

According to the report, whereas the finance ministry released sh2b to the education ministry in 2014/2015 financial year to facilitate construction of classrooms in 28 schools in Kamuli district, some of the funds were diverted.

There were also allegations that funds for Kavule, Kamuli Boys, St Jude Kibetto and Mpakitonyi Primary Schools could have been embezzled/diverted and that the construction works at Bwiiza and Bulondo Primary Schools had stalled.

Officials cited in the report mainly include those from the education ministry.

A total of sh1.76b, the report said, was released to the 26 schools while sh139m meant "for Kikubi and Bulondo Primary Schools was diverted to other activities without authorisation, adding that the money was later disbursed to the two schools in FY 2015/2016.

The report said that sh88m was paid to facilitate monitoring of the construction works by officials from the education ministry and Kamuli district, which included allowances, stationery and fuel expenses.

"Although the officers were paid allowances totaling sh71m for 72 days, some of them spent only four or seven days in Kamuli and others never went to the field."

The IG further established that a number of staff received night allowance for travel to monitor emergency construction programmes in Kamuli district, but they neither went to Kamuli.

The staff cited have been directed to refund the money to the Inspectorate of Government Assets Recovery Account in Bank of Uganda within 60 days or face more stringent measures, including prosecution.