Auditor General, John Muwanga

MPs sitting on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Monday grilled the Ministry of Education and Sports officials to explain their expenditure of over 2.1billion shillings of public funds meant for private Universities.

In his June 30^th 2016 report to Parliament, Auditor General, John Muwanga, highlighted that the Ministry transferred 2.1billion shillings to six private Universities, in fulfillment of Presidential pledges.

The beneficiary Universities included; Bishop Staurt University which received 380 million shillings , Kumi University 300Million shillings , Kisubi Brothers University College 912.5Million shillings , Nkumba University 300M, Mountains of the Moon University 150M and Ndejje University 150M.

During the audit process, the auditors discovered that the transfers lacked detailed information with regards to status of implementation of pledges where the benefiting universities had to construct libraries, laboratories and other science blocks.

The auditors also queried discovered that the transfers were made without putting in place mechanisms for accountability from the universities that benefited from President Museveni’s generosity.

In their response, the Ministry told MPs that only Nkumba and Ndejje Universities have handed in their accountabilities.

Director Higher Education Robert Odok Oceng said that the understanding is that the students from private Universities are also Ugandans who come to the job market, who should be properly trained.

During the interface, it was discovered that the Ministry issued the funds without drawing any agreement with the Universities.

The Ministry acknowledged that there was no memorandum of understanding drawn but revealed these have since been put in place.

Gerald Karuhanga the Ntugamo MP

Gerald Karuhanga, Ntungamo Municipality MP wondered how the Ministry would commit such huge funds to private Universities, yet public Universities are grappling with meager funds.

He also questioned why the Ministry budget should go into paying presidential pledges, yet Parliament allocates monies to the Office of the President to meet presidential pledges.

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The chairman African region and executive director, Cavendish University, Dr. Ketrine Salati, many courses need huge sums of money to be taught yet they are paying heavy taxes to the government making it difficult for them to have some of these courses at these institutions.

Dr. Ketrine also adds that the university that is slated to have its first graduation ceremony towards the end of the week has already embraced the east African community common market by spread its branches to Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda.

He says they are also establishing learning centers in upcountry areas, with two already running in Soroti and Kisoro districts.

By Isaac Senabulya

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