Councillors raise queries over sold hospital equipment
On sale. Some old medical equipment from Kayunga hospital that is for sale. PHOTO BY FRED MUZAALE
What you need to know:
So far, the district has sold more than 700 aluminium iron sheets, hospital beds, mattresses and other equipment from the theatre among others.
Kayunga. Councillors in Kayunga District have put the district executive committee on the spot over failure to show accountability of funds raised from the sale of old medical equipment at Kayunga General Hospital.
The hospital is undergoing renovation and expansion at a cost of Shs70b.
Dr Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, said the facility will be equipped with new machines upon completion.
Although the council claims that they have not been informed about the funds raised, Mr Tom Sserwanga, the district chairperson, said about Shs210m has been collected from the exercise.
Mr Jamir Ndugga, a councillor representing Kayonza Sub-county, said the district executive has utilised the funds without their approval.
“As council, we have not yet passed a supplementary budget to appropriate those funds, but we are shocked to learn that the executive has used it,” Mr Ndugga said at the weekend.
“When they wanted to sell off the medical equipment, they sought council approval, but when it comes to accountability, they dodge around, it means there is misappropriation and corruption tendencies,” he added.
Some officials are also questioning the motive of the district executive to constitute another committee to handle the auctioning instead of the procurement and disposal unit.
“We were left out of this exercise (sale of equipment) and we are also watching from a distance,” an official from the procurement department, who preferred anonymity, said.
Mr Sserwanga set up a verification team headed by Mr Charles Iga, the district fisheries officer, to dispose of the equipment.
Mr Sserwanga categorised the funds from the sale as local revenue, saying they can be used in daily operations.
“The Shs210m is very little. We have so far used Shs42m to roof the theatre at Bbaale Health Centre IV. We wanted to do something tangible from these funds,” he said.
Mr Sserwanga said they would show accountability to relevant authorities such as the Auditor General and Inspectorate of Government, adding that “we want to be as transparent as possible.”
Mr Benson Otim, the acting district chief administrative officer, also dismissed claims that the money had been misappropriated.
“Council has approved these funds to be used in fencing the district headquarters, buying furniture for the district chairperson and others,” Mr Otim said.
He said the exercise is still ongoing and those who want accountability should wait for it to be concluded.
Kayunga General Hospital, which was constructed in the 1970s, had never had any major renovations.
Dr Sarah Opendi, the State minister for Health in-charge of General Duties, said government will delay the elevation of the hospital to a regional referral due to lack of funds.
Sold
So far, the district has sold more than 700 aluminium iron sheets, hospital beds, mattresses and other equipment from the theatre among others. The renovation and expansion of the hospital is expected to be concluded by February next year.
