Members of Parliament on the Parliamentary Accounts Committee have grilled officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development over funds remitted from Missions abroad that disappeared from Consolidated Fund.
The officials led by Secretary to Treasury/Permanent Secretary, Keith Muhakanizi appeared before the Committee on Wednesday morning to answer queries raised in the Auditor General’s report for 2014/15.
In the report, John Muwanga, the Auditor General noted that Shs276m collected as Non-Tax Revenue from the Mission in Nairobi wasn’t reflected in the consolidated fund yet it had been wired to Finance Ministry account.
The MPs also revealed that during their visit to Khartoum they learnt that Uganda’s Mission there collected money in the year under question (2014/15) and it was handed over to Ministry of Finance, but they never received a receipt.
It was also revealed that the Mission in Kigali banked money collected from visas, but the money has never reflected on the Consolidated Account to date.
Further, Shs803.4m from the Mission in Beijing was also remitted to Finance, but isn’t reflected in the Consolidated Fund.
Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the Kiira Municipality MP tasked Finance Ministry officials to produce all Non Tax Revenue receipts from all Missions starting 2014 to date.
“The Ministry keeps washing their hands clean and keeps blaming the Committee. You can’t tell me none of you looked at the Auditor General report,” Ssemujju said.
However, Muhakanizi and Accountant General, Lawrence Semakula said they didn’t have knowledge about the whereabouts of the money, arguing that they didn’t have an idea of what was going to be discussed.
“We agree that we will look at it. Frankly speaking, I had no idea why I was called,” Muhakanizi said.
However, this didn’t down well with MPs.
“We shouldn’t be the ones to tell you what to do. It is your duty to look at the Auditor General’s report,” Ssemujju said.
After failing to respond to the MPs queries, Finance Ministry officials were ordered out and asked to return on Friday with appropriate answers.
