Ntungamo returns Shs3.5b to Treasury despite Shs1.8b debt

Ntungamo District local government has returned more than Shs3.5 billion to the Treasury despite the district’s outstanding debt of Shs1.8 billion accumulated over a five-year period, Daily Monitor has established.
The money was meant to clear the wage bill to pay workers who were to be recruited in the unfilled positions, clear contractors building health facilities and construct two schools, a technical and a seed school, among others, during the financial year 2018/2019.

The district chief administrative officer (CAO), Ms Joanita Nakityo, confirmed returning the funds. “Much of the money that we returned was released late and we could not utilise it. For instance, the money [Shs1.2b] meant for the construction of Kategaya Memorial Technical Institute was received on June 30, at the close of the financial year,” she said.

“What I did was to return it but I know we shall claim it and use it in this financial year,” Ms Nakityo added.
She said in such circumstances, they are hindered by the bureaucracies by the ministry of Finance.
Ms Nakityo explained that Shs1 billion was meant for the construction of Ruyonza Seed School and Shs600m for completion of buildings at two health centre IIs. The two health centres are being elevated to health centre IIIs in Kyamwasha and Karuruma.
The ministry was meant to spend Shs420m for salaries of intended recruits, Shs320m for agriculture cluster project and Shs200m for other different activities.

The Ntungamo District LC5 chairman, Mr Denis Singahache, said work at the district is crippled because of the ministry’s failure to remit money on time.
He also blamed technocrats for failing to remit work plans and budgets in time in order to have funds secured.
At the end of May, the district council blocked passing of the district budget citing unexplained debts of Shs1.8b. The money accrued from unpaid supplies including fuel, security, and contracts for construction, cases judged against the district, and council expenses among others.

However, the district council reluctantly passed the budget after a compromise with the chief administrative officer and the executive.
Ms Nakityo said there is no money to clear the outstanding debts.
The Itojo Sub-county councillor, Mr Denis Muhumuza Savimbi, cited poor management at both the political and civic level that brings up many accountability issues.
“We were ranked third last in performance in all district in the country in accountability. We have corruption and general impunity here that is eating into our district. How can we fail to recruit workers with all the people on street without jobs?” he said.

Ms Nakityo has been in office for three months. She was recruited after the district council and executive passed a resolution to transfer Mr Kweyamba Ruhemba who had served there for one year and eight months.
The previous two CAOs were interdicted over clashes with Mr Singahache where one was arrested over missing Shs400m meant for roads.
For the past three years, the district has been returning at least Shs1b every financial year.