AUDITOR GENERAL FLAGS WEAK FINANCIAL CONTROLS ACROSS WEST NILE

District leaders during photo moment with the officials from CSBAG and Auditor General Arua regional Office. Photo by Dramadri Federick.

By Dramadri Federick
Arua City

The Office of the Auditor General has raised concerns over weak financial management controls and the mismanagement of assets across 13 local governments in West Nile Region.

During the 2023/24 fiscal year audit reports dissemination, supported Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group CSBAG, it was noted that while 300 SACCOs under the Parish Development Model were fully funded, issues were identified. Specifically, 39 beneficiaries across 11 SACCOs in seven local governments diverted funds, and 11 SACCOs in seven districts engaged in ineligible projects. Additionally, 68 beneficiaries under Parish Revolving Funds did not account for 33,367,000 shillings.

In education sector, auditors discovered inflated learner numbers up by 1,682 pupils not captured in the Education Management information System (EMIS) leading to underfunding of approximately 480 million shillings for districts including Adjumani, Arua, Nebbi, and Pakwach. In health sector, Maracha and Pakwach districts paid over 20 million shillings to three staff members who were absent for an average of 170 days. The report also revealed that ten Health Center IVs lacked essential equipment such as X-ray machines and oxygen cylinders.

Regarding infrastructure, projects worth 9.75 billion shillings under Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) Program were executed on approximately 50 acres of untitled land in Terego, Arua, Maracha, and Yumbe districts. Although West Nile region received 14 billion shillings for road maintenance, auditors found 69 million shillings were unspent and recovered by the central treasurer.

Stakeholders from the region have expressed varied reactions with majority faulting the central government’s finance ministry for delayed releases and failure to account for transfers to the consolidated funds.

William Amanzuru the team leader Friends of Zoka who represented the Civil Societies Organizations (COS), challenged the Auditor General to conduct environmental audits related to refugee settlements. “There’s need for Auditor General to look at actions of the Office of the Prime minister in the contractual agreements for settling local governments while exploring the benefits the local governments are getting from these agreements and who the environmental implications are on the host communities.”

Whereas Wamboza Martin, the Principal Auditor from the Auditor General’s Arua Regional Office urged politicians to improve oversight and accountability. “As the Auditor general is advocating for citizen participation in the auditing process, the local leaders have a role to ensure full accountability and quality delivery of projects to the people. While accounting officers should strengthen financial controls, first truck titling of public lands to save government assets.” Wambosa explained.

Bonny Ongom of the Inspectorate of Government Arua assured district leaders that actions would follow for any criminal activities identified. “This audit is a call to us, we need to look at the report, isolate issues that needs urgent attention before other interested entities in anti-corruption and maladministration come in.” Ongom stated.

The Auditor General emphasized that the auditing for recently concluded financial year 2024/25 will put medical supplies a key priority following concerns of drug stock outs.