Nusaf funding suspended, district to refund aid money
Supervision. A farmer in a simsim garden in Koch Pangero Village in Koch Parish, Nebbi District last year. In the neighbouring Arua District, the farmers who were supplied with simsim and soya beans have been fleeced by the Nusaf District Technical Officer. PHOTO BY FELIX WAROM
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Refund. The CAO, Mr Ismail Ochengel, said they have agreed to refund the money for the continuity of the projects.
ARUA. Arua District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Ismail Ochengel and the LC5 chairman Mr Sam Nyakua have directed re-allocation of part of the district funds to refund swindled Shs500 million Northern Uganda Social Action Fund III (Nusaf) project funds.
The decision follows last week’s suspension of funding to the district until the missing funds have been accounted for.
The director for Nusaf III, Dr Robert Lim Lim, made the announcement following corruption scandals that rocked the project after the Nusaf district technical officer, Mr Paul Edobu, and his accomplices now on the run, allegedly swindled the money meant to pay suppliers of Equator Seeds Company and others directed by the beneficiaries.
Mr Ochenge, said they have agreed to refund the money for the continuity of the projects.
“We looked at all the available options and we got stranded! We must find money to pay the suppliers. The local government financial regulations mandate the district executive to review work plans and be in position to re-allocate money to handle the demands of the suppliers. We did not anticipate this,” he said.
He added that the budget line was not available but they are pleading with the suppliers to have this phased within two years so that they can be in position to pay them with effect from the third quarter.
The departments, whose budgets are going to be affected, include Production and Marketing (Shs5 million), Health (Shs5 million), Works and Technical (Shs10 million) and Finance (Shs10 million), among others.
Mr Nyakua, apologised on behalf of the district for the loss of the funds.
“I take responsibility for this, both politically and administratively and I apologise for the mess. We want to negotiate with suppliers to see if we can get their money within the district to pay through instalments. This mess has brought in a lot of bitterness among the communities,” he said.
The State minister for Northern Uganda, Ms Grace Kwiyocwiny, was sceptical about the plans by the district to re-allocate funds because it would affect service delivery.
“From which budget line will you get this money to pay the suppliers? Where was the CAO and the LC5 chairman when money was misused? The officers should account for their actions,” she said.
The district coordinator for Arua District NGO Network, Mr Tuaib Feni, said: “The officers should be held individually accountable because money cannot be re-allocated from the other departments. This plan must not be implemented because this will still encourage corruption of another funding.”
