By Aggrey Baba
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has praised the Auditor General, Edward Akol, for presenting a thorough report that tackles not only financial audits but also value-for-money and special assessments. The report, unveiled at Parliament, on January 15, 2025, is expected to strengthen oversight and accountability mechanisms.
“With these details, we can dig deeper into our oversight role as Parliament,” Tayebwa said. He further noted that accountability committees would soon begin reviewing the findings, as required by law.
The Auditor General’s 2023/24 report highlighted troubling inefficiencies across critical sectors, calling for immediate government intervention.
The report revealed that cities and municipalities collected only 37% of the 4 million tons of garbage generated over the past three years. While municipalities managed to handle 50% of their waste, cities fared worse, processing just 34.4%. Akol warned, “These inefficiencies in solid waste management pose a serious threat to public health and the environment.”
The healthcare sector also came under scrutiny. At Mulago National Referral Hospital, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) operates at just 56% capacity due to staff shortages. Akol emphasized the broader issue, stating, “Critical equipment sits idle because there’s no trained personnel to operate it. The health infrastructure department needs Shs20 billion annually for maintenance but receives only Shs1.8 billion.”
Akol expressed concern over the rise in expired medical supplies, with the government writing off Shs316.65 billion worth of items, including COVID-19 vaccines and ARVs, compared to Shs33 billion the previous year. “This waste could have addressed many other pressing health needs,” he lamented.
In addition, the report warned of a looming pension crisis. Akol projected that taxpayers could spend over Shs4.5 trillion annually on pensions by 2034 if reforms are not enacted.
Cases of overpayments were also revealed, with Shs31.2 billion paid in excess gratuity, affecting over 3,600 pensioners. “The sustainability of our pension system is under significant pressure,” he cautioned, adding that retirees are expected to increase by 12% annually over the next decade.
Low absorption of funds in the national budget was another issue raised. Despite the budget for FY 2023/24 being revised upwards to Shs61.4 trillion, only Shs47 trillion was utilized, leaving a gap of Shs7.1 trillion. “This underutilization affects service delivery and hinders key development goals,” Akol noted.
[A stitch in time saves nine], and the Auditor General’s findings serve as a wake-up call for policymakers to address these issues promptly to avert further challenges. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
