Accounting officers face penalty for missing workshop

John Mitala, the head of Public Service in Uganda has threatened to punish accounting officers who were invited for the official launch of the Public Procurement and Disposal E-Learning System on Tuesday but failed to show up.

A visibly cross Mitala was not happy that almost all accounting officers decided to send junior staff to represent them at the function at Imperial Royale Hotel, which also included a training session.

"If you can let me know those ones (accounting officers) you invited (and did not come), and the letters went to their offices, I will take action against them" he told organisers of the event. Mitala was invited to launch the new system.

Prof. John Opuda-Asibo, the executive director of National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) was the only accounting officer who showed up. Even then, he arrived late.

The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) developed the new system in partnership with the Uganda Technology and Management University and the Financial Management and Accountability Programme (FINMAP). 

He also reserved criticism for organizers of the function.

"You may find that the invitations were sent to wrong places. My invitation was sent to Ministry of Public Service…my predecessor was sitting in the Office of the President. I have been in my position for the last fifteen years sitting in the Office of the President. How do you send my invitation to Ministry of Public Service?" he lamented.

Accounting officers are important stakeholders in public procurement. In ministries, accounting officers are permanent secretaries.

In government agencies, accounting officers are executive directors, in local governments, they are the Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs).

Accounting officers sign public procurement contracts. They are also expected to carry out assessment of market price prior to commencement of the procurement process.

In emergency situations, accounting officers are mandated by the law to sign a contract without a decision by the contracts committee, where the contracts committee is unable to meet.