Francis Okello Olwa, the Lira District Communication Officer blames the delayed approval of their requisition on the Ministry of Finance and Local Government, saying the process has now taken more than two weeks.
The government has told Parliament that it needs more time to consult on the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Amendment Bill 2019 especially on which Ministry should supervise the funds.
The Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has tasked the Ministry of Finance to refund 800 million Shillings to the Departed Asians Properties Custodian Board (DAPCB) taken after the closure of the International Credit Bank (ICB).
The Ministry says in the latest reporting that this was the highest figure the country has exported in a single financial year. As a result, the country earned USD 494 million (1.8 trillion shillings).
The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga accused the Finance Ministry of intentionally not paying the traders. She said that Parliament they will not deal with any business from the Ministry of Finance until they pay the traders.
Only 491 billion shillings was approved in April when the country was in total lockdown over coronavirus, down from 1.5 trillion Shillings approved in March when the country was just starting lockdown. This is a fall of more than 1 trillion Shillings on the money banks lent in April compared to March 2020.
However, in a letter dated April 4, 2020, the president rejected the loan on the forest and resilience landscape project and the additional financing for intergovernmental fiscal transfers. He said he has a problem with the Ministry's lack of seriousness and failure to use clear language in seeking for the loan.
Bahati told the committee today that the money was needed to operationalize UIRI’s machining, manufacturing and industrial skills training centre at Namanve. He added that in 2014, UIRI secured a grant of USD 30 million from China to establish the centre. He added that all the planned 17 building structures at the campus have been constructed and machines and equipment installed.
According to Auditor General John Muwanga’s audit report, a review of expenditures revealed that entities charged wrong expenditure codes to the tune of Shillings 369.8 billion, a practice he said leads to financial misreporting.
According to Musana Nathan, the chairperson LC3 Kicheche Sub county who also doubles as Mayor Kabujogera Town council during an interview with URN reporter earlier on Thursday, said the Town council received only 50M as startup fund in 2016 and since they have never received any more money.
Henry Musasizi, the Chairperson of the Finance Committee was baffled by the appointment of an independent consultant-Ernst & Young to verify the stock of domestic arrears without the involvement of the Auditor General or the Internal Auditor General.
The Secretary to Treasury Keith Muhakanizi on Thursday told Parliament's Finance Committee that Cabinet will discuss the issue of compensation before a final decision is made on the beneficiaries.
While appearing before Parliament Finance Committee on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Planning David Bahati and Mugambe were tasked to explain the reduction in the proposed budget despite an increase in the estimated revenue that will finance the national envelope.
The Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, on December 3, directed the Clerk to Parliament to gazette the Bill to enable its First reading on the floor of parliament after Niwagaba failed to obtain a Certificate of Financial Implication for the Bill within the time frame of 60 days stipulated in the Public Finance Management Act.
Muhakanizi warns that any accounting officer who approves staff loans beyond the 50% of the gross pay and cause staff to go off the payroll will be held personally and pecuniary accountable.
Emmanuel Banya Natal, the Kitgum Municipal Council Town Clerk says that the construction works is set to resume soon. He says the Finance Ministry this week released the 380 million shillings to the council account.
Samuel Ahabwe, the Municipal Town Clerk says that funds were secured from another source which he did not reveal.
According to Ahabwe, each councilor received a total of shillings 525,000 for the five quarters that were not paid.
