The Committee on Public Accounts – Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) has commenced inquiries into audit queries on the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), with virements and reallocation of employee costs.

First was on a reallocation of Shs58 billion as virements- the permission given to accounting officers under the Public Finance Management Act, subject to the approval by the Secretary to Treasury, to move money from one budget line to another.  

UNRA Executive Director, Allen Kagina offered a response, saying the problem is the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) given to them by the Finance Ministry, based on which they sign contracts with contractors for the construction of roads, and later hit a snag with delayed or even no payments at all.

This, said Kagina, is responsible for the persistent indebtedness in which UNRA is entangled each financial year, and said the solution lies in putting a halt to new projects until current ones are completed.

“If all the money is not released, the debt will accrue; the solution is to either pay all the debt, which hasn’t been done or stop constructing new roads until we finish the ones we have started,” she said.

Mawokota South MP Yusuf Nsibambi had earlier placed the blame on UNRA officials, whom he said are not bold enough to reject the conceptualization of new projects before completing ones they have started.

“How much do you push [against the commencement of new projects] because I don’t see any fault on your part, but you are also playing politics; you create the impression that you are going to construct roads, you assemble equipment, you mobilise contractors, whereas not,” he said.

Committee Chairperson, Joel Ssenyonyi offered Parliament’s support. “If UNRA is having challenges, we want to see how we assist you to solve the challenges,” he said, in reference to the financing challenges.

MPs then moved to the query highlighted by the Auditor General, John Muwanga, as ‘diversion of funds for employee costs’.

The Auditor General said that, ‘the accounting officer reported to have spent Shs98.3 billion on employee costs. However, the review of the payments file indicated that out of the above amount, actual expenditure on salaries and related costs was Shs93.7 billion; the rest of the salary funds amounting to Shs4.6 billion were actually spent on settlement of civil works obligations’.
 
MPs have now tasked UNRA officials to present detailed accountability of the Shs4.6 billion and the list of projects to which it was diverted.

In the audit report, UNRA’s accounting officer had explained that the balance was occasioned by a botched recruitment plan, following a government directive to freeze hiring new staff due to planned restructuring and layoffs.

The inquiry continues tomorrow, Thursday, 10 November  2022.

Stories Continues after ad

6,374 motorcycles were impounded country-wide in the last two days in the crackdown operation, the spokesperson for the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, Faridah Nampiima has confirmed.

She said the operation, which is geared towards ensuring road safety, will continue until all boda-boda riders abide by the traffic police regulations.

“We are on day three of the operation on motorcycles, mainly targeting crash/safety helmets and retro-reflective jackets. A total number of 4,926 EPS tickets were issued to offenders while 1,448 motorcycles are pending at the stations,” she said.

Nampiima also thanked the general public for their support and the riders who have complied. 

The operation came after the police released a compilation of CCTV footage of boda-boda accidents in Kampala and its suburbs which claimed people’s lives.

Boda-boda accidents remain the largest contributor to fatal accidents, in which at least an average of 1,918 people are killed annually, according to the 2021 Annual Crime and Traffic/Road Safety report. This stands at an average of four deaths per day.

Stories Continues after ad

The 2022 National Science Week kicked off yesterday at the Kololo Airstrip, and will run until 10^th November. This year’s Science week spans a series of events including a public exhibition showcasing Ugandan innovations, an Investor Summit to drive investment into Ugandan science technology and innovation ventures and various topical panel discussions bringing together various players within the science, and technology and innovation value chain.

“Science and technology hold the key to the present and future development of Uganda and as a government, we are aware that to escape from poverty, investment in science and technology education is the key. This annual event is important as it brings together various players within the value chain to chart a way forward for Uganda’s science, technology and innovation,” said Dr Monica Musenero, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation during the official opening of the Science Week.

Running under the theme,“Uganda in 2040; The Future We Want Through Science Technology & Innovation”, the event is open to the general public and attendance is free of charge.

Over 200 exhibitors in Science, Technology and Innovation – specifically in the fields of Pathogen Economy. Aeronautics and Space Science; The Future of Infrastructure; Industry 4.0; Mobility and Productivity Acceleration, Import Substitution; Export Promotion and the science of support services.

These showcased innovations such as vaccine development, robotics, agricultural value addition and food products, pesticides, the future of green mobility through automotive innovation, and vehicle manufacturing, among others.

“This year’s theme is tied to the future we envision for Uganda as we all need to acknowledge the need for innovation to drive national and economic development. Technological advancement drives economic growth and global competitiveness with at least 50% of global economic development being attributable to innovations and investment in science, technology and innovation,” Dr Musenero added.

To address the challenge of funding for early-stage science, technology and innovation ventures, the National Science Week will host a Science, Technology and Innovation Investor Summit. Attendance from key financial players including venture capitalists and commercial banks is expected.

“We are proactively paving the way for our science, technology and innovation start-ups to secure the funding they require for viable projects. Through this event, we will act as a bridge and provide a platform for innovators to pitch their ideas to potential investors and secure the support they need,” Dr.Musenero noted.

The Science Week will culminate in a closing ceremony on 10^th November over which H.E the President will preside.

This year, the National Science Week will majorly focus on Aeronautics and Space Science; Mobility (Indigenous Motor Vehicle Manufacturing); Pathogen Economy; Industry 4.0+; Infrastructure Innovation; Productivity Acceleration; Import Substitution; and Export Targeted Science, Technology and Innovation.

The 2019 Global Innovation Index ranked Uganda 102 out of 129 countries, lagging behind Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania in 77^th, 94^th and 97^th place, respectively.

According to NDP III, the government will invest in the development of a solid eco-system by incorporating science education in primary, secondary and university curricula thereby making science and technology accessible at all levels of learning, partnerships between university research institutions and industry to make it attractive for human capital development and raising awareness of how research can drive high technology innovation and wealth creation.

“Through this activity, we intend to create awareness of value addition resulting from science, technology and innovation, foster strategic partnerships with various stakeholders including the public and private sector, and enhance the market potential of indigenous products in the region and globally to enhance Uganda’s competitiveness both within the region and globally,” Dr Musenero said.

The National Science Week is organised by The Secretariat of Science Technology and Innovation (STI) in the Office of the President which takes the lead in integrating STI into the national economy in order to drive development.

Stories Continues after ad

Speaker Anita Among has directed the Minister for Health to table before the House evidence that allowances of medical interns have been paid.

This followed several disputing statements from Members of Parliament after the State Minister for Health, Margaret Muhanga informed the House that the interns had called off the strike after being paid.

“Dentists and doctors were paid shs2.5 million, pharmacists shs2 million and nurses and midwives shs1.5 million,” said Muhanga.

The Minister, however, attributed the delay in payment to less funding to the ministry

“July and August were paid from the first quarter but releases were inadequate and thus, we paid September and October in this quarter,” Muhanga added.

However, Buikwe South MP Lulume Bayigga disputed the minister saying that he had been in a meeting of the health committee where the interns asserted that they had not been paid. “They told us that they have not called off the strike, and they have not been met by the Ministry of Health,” he said.

Kole North MP, Samuel Opio said that the medical interns also raised concerns about salary discrepancies which have not been addressed.

“The President directed that the interns be paid half of the salaries of their seniors but the Ministry of Health has decided to apply their own salary scale,” Opio said.

Speaker Among directed the minister to lay before the House documentation to show that the interns had been paid. “It is not fair to say that these people have been paid when they haven’t. You rather pay them first before paying MPs,” she said.

The Speaker noted that the strike by the interns came at a risky time and urged government to ensure the matter is solved.

“The timing of this strike is worrying especially with the outbreak of Ebola and all other sicknesses,” she said.

The Leader of the Opposition, Matthias Mpuuga observed that the delay to remunerate intern doctors has affected health service in hospitals across the country.

“People are complaining about patients not attended to because somebody is casually attending to duty. This is unacceptable. Will the Minister give information to the House on how many lives were lost and who is accountable for this criminal negligence,” Mpuuga said.

The Speaker also tasked the Prime Minister to present an update to the House on the establishment of the Salary Review Commission.

The Minister for Public Service, Muruli Mukasa said the appointment of the Commission’s Board Members is in its final stages and the names will be presented to Parliament in two weeks.

“The discussions on the Salary Review Commission are almost concluded through Cabinet and the Board shall be presented to Parliament in two weeks,” Muruli Mukasa said.

Stories Continues after ad