Sh15b govt building fund vanishes in districts
Jul 27, 2003
OVER sh15b for classroom construction is unaccounted for in 28 districts
OVER sh15b for classroom construction is unaccounted for in 28 districts, reports John Eremu.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) now wants the re-centralisation of all activities under the Schools Facility Grant (SFG).
The biggest defaulter was Gulu, whose accountability for sh918m was rejected by the external auditors. The amount excludes the sh238m on which the Chief Administrative Officer, Achiel Owori, is being questioned, education ministry officials said.
The funds advanced for classrooms between 1998 and 2002 have been dogged by allegations of corruption and shoddy work. Some districts used funds from other sources to account for SFG.
The auditors demanded fresh accounts from 46 districts and Hoima, Mukono, Rakai, Arua, Moyo, Lira, Adjumani, Rukungiri, Mbarara, Katakwi and Apac have been cleared.
Iganga’s re-accountability for sh910m has been thrown out. Kiboga’s accountability for sh610m was also rejected while Pallisa and Moroto submitted accountabilities for sh300m and sh186m respectively, without any supporting vouchers.
In Pader, sh10m of the sh28m advanced for emergency rehabilitation is unaccounted for while accountability for a similar amount in Bugiri lacked papers.
The districts which re-submitted accounts include Mbale for sh1.1b, Kasese sh932m, Jinja sh259m, Kabale sh812m, Tororo sh578m, Kiboga sh610m, Kabarole sh686m, Bushenyi sh770m, Mpigi sh676m, Mubende sh671m and Nebbi sh394m.
The others are Ntungamo sh601m, Kibaale sh466m, Sembabule sh484m, Kampala sh195m, Kumi sh198m, Kisoro sh709m, Busia sh262m, Nakasongola sh755m, Kalangala sh70m, Bundibugyo sh482m, Masindi sh940m, Kapchorwa sh212m, Masaka sh671m, Luweero sh708m, Soroti sh208m, Kitgum sh499m, Kotido sh98m and Kamuli sh512m.
PAC said in a report, “The SFG modality has generated unprecedented levels of corruption at district, lower local government and school levels,†the report, presented to Parliament by education ministry officials on July 10, said.
“PAC strongly recommends a reversal of the decentralised SFG modality and proposes that the SFG programme be re-centralised,†they said.
PAC said withholding SFG release to non-compliant districts punished innocent pupils rather than the errant officers.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) now wants the re-centralisation of all activities under the Schools Facility Grant (SFG).
The biggest defaulter was Gulu, whose accountability for sh918m was rejected by the external auditors. The amount excludes the sh238m on which the Chief Administrative Officer, Achiel Owori, is being questioned, education ministry officials said.
The funds advanced for classrooms between 1998 and 2002 have been dogged by allegations of corruption and shoddy work. Some districts used funds from other sources to account for SFG.
The auditors demanded fresh accounts from 46 districts and Hoima, Mukono, Rakai, Arua, Moyo, Lira, Adjumani, Rukungiri, Mbarara, Katakwi and Apac have been cleared.
Iganga’s re-accountability for sh910m has been thrown out. Kiboga’s accountability for sh610m was also rejected while Pallisa and Moroto submitted accountabilities for sh300m and sh186m respectively, without any supporting vouchers.
In Pader, sh10m of the sh28m advanced for emergency rehabilitation is unaccounted for while accountability for a similar amount in Bugiri lacked papers.
The districts which re-submitted accounts include Mbale for sh1.1b, Kasese sh932m, Jinja sh259m, Kabale sh812m, Tororo sh578m, Kiboga sh610m, Kabarole sh686m, Bushenyi sh770m, Mpigi sh676m, Mubende sh671m and Nebbi sh394m.
The others are Ntungamo sh601m, Kibaale sh466m, Sembabule sh484m, Kampala sh195m, Kumi sh198m, Kisoro sh709m, Busia sh262m, Nakasongola sh755m, Kalangala sh70m, Bundibugyo sh482m, Masindi sh940m, Kapchorwa sh212m, Masaka sh671m, Luweero sh708m, Soroti sh208m, Kitgum sh499m, Kotido sh98m and Kamuli sh512m.
PAC said in a report, “The SFG modality has generated unprecedented levels of corruption at district, lower local government and school levels,†the report, presented to Parliament by education ministry officials on July 10, said.
“PAC strongly recommends a reversal of the decentralised SFG modality and proposes that the SFG programme be re-centralised,†they said.
PAC said withholding SFG release to non-compliant districts punished innocent pupils rather than the errant officers.