At least 5,619,120 doses of #Covid-19 vaccines worth Shs28.159 billion has expired in the stores of the National Medical Stores, the just-released Auditor General’s report for financial 2023/23 indicates.
The annual audit report by Auditor General Mr.John Muwanga, details how ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) spent the money that was allocated to them in the financial year ending June 2023. The report was received by the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among.
Muwanga said out of 12,595,920 doses of #Covid-19 vaccines in stores, 5,619,120 doses had expired. The expired #Covid-19 value of the vaccines as of the reporting date was worth.
“More expired vaccines still lie in various health facilities across the country and the total combined loss to be incurred next year is estimated at Shs300 billion. These are vaccines procured out of the World Bank loan advanced for #Covid-19 support,” he said in the report.
The report further shows that the government has been spending Shs53 billion annually on 10,192 non-existent employees who had been on government payroll. During the verification exercise in February 2023, the employees were found to have died, retired, or absconded from duty.
The Office of the Auditor General undertook a special audit of the salary payroll across the government, where he validated all employees in 367 entities comprising 162 MDAs, 179 local governments, and 29 other government organisations in February 2023.
The report highlights that the country’s public debt as of June 30, 2023, stood at Shs96 trillion. The domestic debt stock stands at Shs43.6 trillion, while the external debt is Shs52.4 trillion. The public debt has increased by 107% in the last five years.
Among other things, the submission of this report marks the beginning of Parliamentary scrutiny, for which I undertake to ensure timeliness in line with Article 163(5) of the Constitution, which requires Parliament to pronounce itself on the report of the Auditor General within six months.
“As Parliament, we are committed to effectively playing our role in the public finance and accountability cycle so as to enable greater transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. I urge the other players in the public finance and accountability cycle to effectively play their roles too, given that effective accountability requires collective effort,” she said.
She applauded the Auditor General for maintaining a fully functional parliamentary liaison unit that renders effective support to the Public Accounts Committees. I hope for the continuity of this productive collaboration for the good of our country.
