MPs order probe on Mbarara varsity
Feb 16, 2008
MPS have asked the Auditor General to carry out a special audit on Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
By Mary Karugaba
MPS have asked the Auditor General to carry out a special audit on Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
“Mbarara University has demonstrated that it has the weakest internal system compared to other universities, hence a lot of embezzlement and fraud,†the Public Accounts Committee chairman, Nandala Mafabi, said.
This was on Wednesday during a meeting with the institution’s officials headed by the University Secretary, Charles Kibirige.
While scrutinising the university’s accounts, the MPs discovered that over sh1b released by the ministry of finance was paid out but never recorded.
The funds were payment for domestic arrears for three financial years which, according to MPs, never existed.
“In 2005, you paid arrears of sh1b. We are concerned that you have no arrears but continued receiving money from finance,†Mafabi stated. The committee had earlier received information about “open theft of over sh1b at the university,â€
According to the whistle blower, “there existed no domestic arrears for which this amount was released.â€
“On receipt of the purported domestic arrears funds, the suppliers were asked to forge delivery notes and invoices according to the freshly-prepared, back dated local purchase orders that were written to support supplies to appear genuine,†the source stated in a seven-page report to Mafabi.
The bursar, Deo Ojambo, explained that the money was requested to pay for arrears of 2002, which the university owed contractors who had put up a science block.
But Tom Kazibwe said: “The systems are rotten. There is total disregard for funds. Funds are disappearing and the internal auditor and the University secretary are not bothered at all.â€
The committee also on found that sh34m was spent on staff travel abroad but did not have supporting documents.
MPS have asked the Auditor General to carry out a special audit on Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
“Mbarara University has demonstrated that it has the weakest internal system compared to other universities, hence a lot of embezzlement and fraud,†the Public Accounts Committee chairman, Nandala Mafabi, said.
This was on Wednesday during a meeting with the institution’s officials headed by the University Secretary, Charles Kibirige.
While scrutinising the university’s accounts, the MPs discovered that over sh1b released by the ministry of finance was paid out but never recorded.
The funds were payment for domestic arrears for three financial years which, according to MPs, never existed.
“In 2005, you paid arrears of sh1b. We are concerned that you have no arrears but continued receiving money from finance,†Mafabi stated. The committee had earlier received information about “open theft of over sh1b at the university,â€
According to the whistle blower, “there existed no domestic arrears for which this amount was released.â€
“On receipt of the purported domestic arrears funds, the suppliers were asked to forge delivery notes and invoices according to the freshly-prepared, back dated local purchase orders that were written to support supplies to appear genuine,†the source stated in a seven-page report to Mafabi.
The bursar, Deo Ojambo, explained that the money was requested to pay for arrears of 2002, which the university owed contractors who had put up a science block.
But Tom Kazibwe said: “The systems are rotten. There is total disregard for funds. Funds are disappearing and the internal auditor and the University secretary are not bothered at all.â€
The committee also on found that sh34m was spent on staff travel abroad but did not have supporting documents.