THE EAST AFRICAN-NAIROBI-KENYA
Regional
Millions Go Missing from
Uganda Missions Abroad
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
AN AUDIT of Uganda's missions abroad has found that millions of shillings in visa and passport fees, have not been remitted to the national treasury - suggesting that the money may have been misappropriated.
A number of missions were also found to have overshot their expenditures by millions of shillings above the authorised spending - an act described by the Auditor General's report as "either unrealistic budgeting or weaknesses in expenditure control."
Several of Uganda's property abroad such as houses and vehicles are not insured, not only contravening the law of the host countries, but also putting at risk property worth millions of dollars.
According to the Auditor General's report to parliament, the main culprits are Uganda's missions in Europe.
For example, none of the country's properties in Copenhagen, including vehicles, the chancery and official residence, were insured.
Auditor General John F.S. Muwanga said Uganda's High Commission in London had failed to account for �7,257 (Ush21 million) in passport and visa fees for the past financial year.
The High Commission also failed to remit �6,955 (Ush20 million).
The money was the balance from the 2001/2002 expenditure.
According to the government accounting regulations, all money not spent must be returned to the Treasury at the end of every financial year.
The AG said the visa register in New Delhi lacked important information and documents that enhance accountability such as nationality of applicant, receipt numbers and class of visas issued.
The AG however says the missions were flouting government accounting regulations because they lacked qualified staff.
Most of the missions do not have financial attaches while at the same time they do not have funds to employ accountants from the host countries.
The heads of chancery, who are Foreign Service officers, are also the accounting officers.
The AG has recommended that these officers be sensitised on proper accounting procedures.
The missions, according to the audit, spent more money than was allocated, contravening government account rules.
The country's missions in Geneva, Copenhagen and Nairobi were found to have spent Ush173 million ($96,000), Ush367 million ($204,000) and Ush387 million ($215,000) respectively.
Officials however told the AG that the allocations were overshot because they were not sufficient to meet the needs of these missions.
In the consulate in Goma, Congo, officials could not account for $151,578, saying the military activity in the Congo made it impossible for them to account for the money.
The AG, however, said the "sorry state" of Uganda's embassies and high commissions was because "the ministry has not given sufficient capital development funds, despite the fact that the missions need equipment, furniture and funds to renovate buildings."
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