MPs want action against Fort Portal CAO
THE parliamentary committee on local government accounts wants Fort Portal municipality’s accounting officer disciplined over sh3.2m which he failed to remit to primary schools.
By Umaru Kashaka
THE parliamentary committee on local government accounts wants Fort Portal municipality’s accounting officer disciplined over sh3.2m which he failed to remit to primary schools.
The committee was on Friday scrutinising responses by the accounting officer, Dennis Mugarra, to the Auditor General’s queries in the 2003/2004 financial year report.
The AG said over sh3.2m meant for primary schools was allegedly used to facilitate a music festival.
MPs, headed by Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri), observed that these were part of conditional funds, which should have been sent directly to the beneficiaries.
“There was no authority given to the accounting officer to divert the money,†the committee observed.
They therefore recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the responsible officers and that Mugarra recovers the money and gives it to the intended beneficiaries.
Earlier in a report, Mugarra had said in line with the Uganda National Music, Dance and Drama syllabus for 2003, the municipality was required to coordinate the event.
He said 17 primary schools were supposed to contribute to the festival.
“Since all schools were contributing to the event, it was prudent to retain only sh200,000 per school of UPE funds to fund the activity. The total funds retained were sh3m,†Mugarra said.
He added that Music, Dance and Drama expenses are qualifying expenditures under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) guidelines. Margaret Babadiri (Koboko) said it was unacceptable for the officer to divert the funds.
“When we allocate funds for specific programmes like UPE, they shouldn’t be diverted for other things. We demand that the money be recovered,†she said.
THE parliamentary committee on local government accounts wants Fort Portal municipality’s accounting officer disciplined over sh3.2m which he failed to remit to primary schools.
The committee was on Friday scrutinising responses by the accounting officer, Dennis Mugarra, to the Auditor General’s queries in the 2003/2004 financial year report.
The AG said over sh3.2m meant for primary schools was allegedly used to facilitate a music festival.
MPs, headed by Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri), observed that these were part of conditional funds, which should have been sent directly to the beneficiaries.
“There was no authority given to the accounting officer to divert the money,†the committee observed.
They therefore recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the responsible officers and that Mugarra recovers the money and gives it to the intended beneficiaries.
Earlier in a report, Mugarra had said in line with the Uganda National Music, Dance and Drama syllabus for 2003, the municipality was required to coordinate the event.
He said 17 primary schools were supposed to contribute to the festival.
“Since all schools were contributing to the event, it was prudent to retain only sh200,000 per school of UPE funds to fund the activity. The total funds retained were sh3m,†Mugarra said.
He added that Music, Dance and Drama expenses are qualifying expenditures under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) guidelines. Margaret Babadiri (Koboko) said it was unacceptable for the officer to divert the funds.
“When we allocate funds for specific programmes like UPE, they shouldn’t be diverted for other things. We demand that the money be recovered,†she said.