Alebtong RDC accused CAO of inflating budget

Feb 22, 2018

The district chairperson, Denis Johnson Okello, said the budget was not inflated but some changes done by district executive committee which is within the law.

The Chief Administration Officer (CAO) of Alebtong, Mbaagwa Muwonge Abdulnoor has been accused of inflating the budget by over sh73m.

The red flag was raised by Resident District Commissioner ( RDC), Andrew Moses Awany and a section of councilors.

In a document seen by New Vision, they alleged that the district council approved sh20, 050,121,000 but inflated to sh20, 123,145,000. The difference according to Awany is sh73m.

The district council on 29th May 2017 approved the budget in a council meeting chaired by speaker George Okello. It was approved under minutes 49.23 following a motion moved by Ambrose Ongom, a counselor representing Amugu Sub County and seconded by Ruth Omaramoi.

According to the minutes, it was bisected as follows; locally raised revenue sh332m, discretionary transfers sh3b, conditional grant transfers sh13b, other government transfers sh2b and donor funding sh150,000 making the total of sh20b.

RDC Awany cited planning unit allocated sh10m, fish hatchery sh21m and classroom blocks at Baropiro primary school allocated sh30m as projects smuggled in the budget without the knowledge of councilors yet it was completed and fully paid in the previous financial year.

"CAO involved all his technical officers in the budget process till the approval date but still went ahead to temper with the approve district budget that was inclusively prepared," Awany said.

He said there is a possibility that even the previous budget of 2016/2017 funded by government had the same error.

He suggested that the ministry of finance, planning and economic development must task the budget desk to eliminate these irregularities in the budget.

He also said the ministry should put in mechanism to track the budget formulation, budget implementation and budget performance.

However, Muwonge said the budget was approved with amendment and it has changes the finance committee recommended after receiving final Indicative Planning Figure (IPF) from the ministry of finance.

"Such changes are lawful as highlighted in the Public Finance Regulation 2016 section 14(7)," he said adding the section allows for the changes and notify permanent secretary.

The district chairperson, Denis Johnson Okello, said the budget was not inflated but some changes done by district executive committee which is within the law.   

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