Service delivery impacted as Masindi district returns Shs6.2 billion to treasury

Masindi: In a financial setback for Masindi district, the outgoing Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) has revealed that over 6.2 billion shillings returned to the national treasury for the 2023/24 financial year.

This reduction is having a detrimental effect on service delivery, with various projects coming to a standstill.

This was disclosed by Ms. Sanyu Phiona while handing over office to the incoming CAO, Ms. Tappy Namulondo, on Friday, July 5, 2024, at the district chambers.

Ms. Sanyu has been transferred to Bushenyi district, while Ms. Namulondo has been transferred from Kamuli district.

She revealed that the funds were returned due to the delay in procurement and irregularities in the procurement process.

According to Ms. Sanyu, some of the projects that have been affected include Kijunjubwa Seed Secondary, Shs1.6 billion under the UgiFT Project; St. Andrea Kaahwa Secondary School, Shs946.6 million; Kinumi Seed Secondary School, Shs526.6 million; and St. Pauls Secondary School, Shs174 million.

‘’For the case of Kijunjubwa Seed Secondary School, we tried to engage the contractor, CMD Investments Limited,, and we had a number of meetings with him, but he was too slow, and for other projects, the funds are rotational.’’

She said that the contract for CMD Investments Limited, expires on July 17, 2024.

Ms. Sanyu also disclosed that 2.6 billion shillings for staff salaries were also returned to the Treasury, which she attributed to the suspension of the district service commission.

The outgoing CAO asserted that the district staffing stands at 81%, with traditional staff at 44%, health at 66%, primary teachers at 81%, and secondary teachers at 94%.

She further stressed that despite advertising the positions of the district education officer, the district health officer, and the district engineer, they failed to attract applicants.

Cosmas Byaruhanga, the district chairperson, termed the return of money unfortunate for the population of Masindi district local government.

Byaruhanga asserted that such incidences shouldn’t happen in the future, blaming the return of the salary funds on the non-functioning district service commission.

‘’The district is looking at recovering the money by approaching the ministry of public service to make sure that the money is retuned. We are looking at recruiting more civil servants, especially teachers, because many have retired while others have been transferred.’’

Apparently, Masindi district is grappling with congested classrooms with inadequate teachers.

Contractor speaks out

Moses Kiwanika Ssebyala, the director of CMD Investments Limited, recently told this publication that they had internal challenges that hindered them from completing the project within the projected period.

He also blamed the delayed release of structural designs and commissioning for the commencement of construction as some of the factors contributing to the delayed completion of the project.

‘’We had internal challenges; the delayed release of structural designs and commissioning also affected our work, thus the delayed commissioning of the project.’’

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