back to top
HomeHealthMulago Hospital Officials Grilled For Flouting Financial Regulations

Mulago Hospital Officials Grilled For Flouting Financial Regulations

Published on

- Advertisement -spot_img

Officials from Mulago Specialised Women and Neo-natal Hospital are tasked to explain why they were issued with letters of credit from Bank of Uganda worth Shs4.07 billion despite the closure of the financial year.

While interfacing with the officials on Monday, 31 July 2023, Members of Parliament on the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) wondered why the letters of credit were issued on 22 July 2022 after the closure of the Financial Year 2021/2022 .

The officials led by the Executive Director, Dr Evelyn Nabunya, appeared before the committee to respond to audit queries raised by the Auditor General.

Dr Nabunya (L) appeared before the committee with her colleagues from the hospital

According to the Auditor General, the letters of credit were issued for the procurement of specialised medical equipment (Shs3.4 billion), an ambulance (Shs390 million) and a pick-up vehicle (Shs208.9 million).

Hon. Xavier Kyooma (NRM, Ibanda County North) observed that the money budgeted for vehicles was released but not all the vehicles were bought in the year under query.
“If money has been budgeted for and it is not spent, it is supposed to be sent back to the Consolidated Fund. Why did you have to get these letters of credit if you had not spent the money by the end of the financial year?” Kyooma asked.

Mubiru Muhammad, the Principal Hospital Administrator, said the letters of credit were issued since the procurement process was ongoing by the time the financial year closed.
“The procurement process for these items had not been completed by the yearend and at the time of audit. The money for these purchases was transferred to Bank of Uganda to be paid when the items were delivered,” Mubiru said.

Nabunya said that there were procurement delays for the vehicles, due to changes in specifications required by the hospital.
“We initially planned for an ambulance that had a small capacity but we discovered that it would not meet the specialised service needs offered by the hospital. We then applied for new approval of an ambulance that was of a higher capacity,” she said.

Nabunya added that funds were not enough to purchase the vehicles in the year under audit due to increased prices attributed to COVID-19.

Related

A Global Gateway To Chinese Culture

By Yuan Zhong From the perspective of cultural communication, the Hello Chinese program has broken...

Big Size Recap: London Parties With Legendary Bebe Cool’s Break The Chains Album Was Massive

On August 12th, Bebe Cool held a successful listener’s party at Masq London, Restaurant...

City Businessman Hamis Kiggundu Launches Cleanup to Pave Way for Nakivubo Channel Redevelopment

Kampala, Uganda – City businessman Hamis Kiggundu, popularly known as Ham, has embarked on...

Nakivubo Channel Set for Major Redevelopment as Uganda Races Towards AFCON 2027

Kampala is moving to cover and modernize the infamous Nakivubo Channel, a drainage trench...

More from The Capital Times

Business Boom In Namugongo Ahead Of Martyrs Day

Business has picked up this morning at Namugongo Martyrs shrine according to traders. The...

Uganda Adopts Kiswahili As Official Language

Uganda has adopted Kiswahili as an official language, a top government official said on...

Minister Kasolo In Hot Soup Over Alleged Orungo Voter Attacks Accused Of Orchestrating Violence Fo Intimidate Opponents in NRM Primaries

A political storm is brewing in Orungo sub-county after shocking allegations emerged linking Uganda’s...