Youth Livelihood Programme recipients of Shs460m disappear
What you need to know:
- The Auditor General's report for the 2014/15 financial year faults Luweero District for giving out money without conducting enough feasibility studies on the maturity of the projects.
- The PAC report has recommended that the district authorities take action and recover the money.
At least 15 groups that received money under the Youths Livelihood Programme are no longer traceable for recovery, a report by Luweero District public accounts shows.
In October 2014, up to 71 youth's groups in Luweero District received more than Shs460 million to start incoming generating activities under the government initiative started to address unemployment. The groups comprising of not more than 15 youths each, were given between Shs5-11 million.
However Luweero District has recovered only Shs78 million out of total disbursement. A report by the district Public Accounts Committee, a copy of which was seen by this reporter shows that 15 out of 32 groups visited by the audit team collapsed while other projects failed over unpredictable weather conditions.
The report indicates that some groups that invested in farming recorded losses over floods and drought conditions. Groups that reported crop failure and animal deaths are Ngogogolo and Kakinzi rice growing groups, Kajjawo youths tomatoes, Namawojja Youths Maize growing group and Gogonya Youths Cattle group among others.
Ms Oliver Bulyaba, the chairperson of Kakinzi Youth Rice Growing project told this reporter that their gardens were was washed away by floods.
She said that they had planted rice and maize out of the Shs8 million that the group received.
Ms Bulyaba adds that the group refunded only Shs500,000 and are unable to pay the balance over the crop failure.
The groups that cannot be traced include Kabulanaka East Youths Banana Group, Busula Youths Bakery Group, Kiwogozi Youths Poultry Group, Katwe Youths Gnut Grinding Group and Kalagala Youths Group among others.
The District PAC reports found out that the group members shared the money and the groups closed.
This reporter attempted to call the registered contact persons in the said groups but they were all unwilling to comment.
The PAC report has recommended that the district authorities take action and recover the money.
Luweero District Chief Administrative Officer Eustace Gakwandi says that it's difficult to recover money from nonexistent groups but they will conduct fresh investigation on the matter.
Hussein Katende Kibazo, the Luweero Deputy Resident District Commissioner says that they have received information that officers at the district pocketed bribes from selected groups and others connived with people to form fake projects to defraud government.
The office of RDC has ordered Police to investigate and arrest the members who were registered in the groups or their guarantors to refund the money.
The Auditor General's report for the 2014/15 financial year also faults Luweero District for giving out money without conducting enough feasibility studies on the maturity of the projects.