Districts Fail To Account For Sh23b School Funds

May 13, 2003

DISTRICTS have failed to account for over sh23b given for classroom construction under the Schools Facility Grant (SFG) between 1998 and 2001.

By John Eremu
DISTRICTS have failed to account for over sh23b given for classroom construction under the Schools Facility Grant (SFG) between 1998 and 2001.

The biggest defaulter is Mbale district with sh1.1b outstanding, according to a document circulated yesterday at the education sector review workshop in Kampala.

Francis Lubanga, the permanent secretary in the education ministry, said in the seven-page document that despite reminders, some chief administrative officers had refused to comply, while others had submitted accountabilities rejected by auditors for lack of supportive documents.

Other districts with include Masindi with sh940m, Kasese sh932m, Lira sh916m, Iganga sh910m, Gulu sh868m, Kabale sh812m, Bushenyi sh770m and Luweero sh708m.

The group, which considered a recommendation from the Public Accounts Committee that classroom construction be re-centralised, gave the defaulting districts six months to improve or the PAC recommendation would be implemented.

Several contributors, including the under-secretary, Pius Bigirimana, the head of construction unit, John Nakabago, the commissioner local authorities inspection, Thomas Nkayarwa and Jinja LC 5 chairman, Fred Gume, also said the recent sanctions proposed against officials who flout SFG and Universal Primary Education guidelines become part of the Local Government Act.

The sanctions that include interdiction, demotion, dismissal, refund of embezzled funds, arrest and prosecution, have been endorsed by the head of the public service John Mitala, his deputy, Hilda Musubira and Secretary Office of the President, Techla Kinalwa.
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