Defence Told To Account For Sh6.5b

Jul 26, 2002

MEMBERS of the defence and internal affairs committee want the Ministry of Defence to account for sh6.5b, part of the sh11b UPDF low-cost housing project, reports Cyprian Musoke.

MEMBERS of the defence and internal affairs committee want the Ministry of Defence to account for sh6.5b, part of the sh11b UPDF low-cost housing project, reports Cyprian Musoke.The ministry reportedly requested for sh10.9b for the project under their capital development budget, with the justification of constructing barracks for four battalions, which would be replicated every subsequent financial year.But a subsequent chapter allots only sh3.5b of the money to construction of four barracks, leaving sh6.5b unaccounted.“This committee is very concerned with the welfare and housing of soldiers, to eliminate ‘mama ingia pole’ (makeshift tin-huts). They are saying they have provided sh10b to cover four battalions, but when you go down into the depth of the document, you realise that construction has only sh3.5b to it. So, where is the sh6.5?” questioned Army MP Col. Fred Bogere.The MPs were yesterday scrutinising the ministry budgetary estimates for the financial year 2002/03, when the army representative pointed out the anomaly.Committee chairman Simon Mayende (Samia Bugwe) wondered whether sh212m was to be spent on consultancy about the general military headquarters, since the report only pronounced itself on consultancy and not the real work.Ends

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