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State House has been directed to provide detailed documentation on donations amounting to UGX 80.18 billion made by President Yoweri Museveni in the last financial year. This directive was issued by Muhamad Muwanga Kivumbi, chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC/Central), during a meeting with State House officials led by Comptroller Jane Barekye on May 22, 2024. The meeting focused on the 2022/23 financial year audit report by Auditor General John Muwanga.
The audit report revealed that the donations were part of the community outreach program’s budget, which also included UGX 3.8 billion for general staff salaries, UGX 1.167 billion for inland travel, UGX 10 million for clothing, and UGX 3.397 billion for allowances. Additional expenditures included UGX 521.2 million for transport equipment maintenance and UGX 25.3 million for welfare and entertainment, bringing the total budget to UGX 89.17 billion.
Kivumbi emphasized the need for transparency, stating that without detailed documentation, MPs could not verify proper accountability. He highlighted the importance of verifying the allocation of donations, particularly for school fees for 3,425 students, and requested a list of the students and their schools, excluding classified information.
Xavier Kyooma, another committee member, pointed out the potential for manipulation when activities are not clearly costed. He questioned the number and amount of each donation, the sponsorship details of the students, and the total output, stressing the need for precise documentation.
In response, Immaculate Naamala, State House’s assistant commissioner of planning, pledged to provide the requested details. She explained that the figures were derived from comprehensive back-end excel sheets and clarified that the auditor had reviewed summarized documents from the Program Budgeting System (PBS).
The discussion also covered the sustainability of nearly twenty presidential industrial hubs. Kivumbi questioned the long-term management of these hubs and suggested that they be transferred to the Office of the President to relieve State House of additional responsibilities. He argued that technical institutions should handle youth skills training and criticized the duplication of government functions.
Barnabas Tinkasimiire added that State House’s primary function is to support the welfare of the president and his family, not to engage in sectors like agriculture and education.
Jane Barekye defended the current operations, stating that her mandate includes facilitating the president in fulfilling his constitutional duties. She clarified that the youths are trained in various districts and regions, not within the president’s residence, and insisted that these actions align with the president’s objectives to serve Ugandans.
The meeting concluded with Barekye affirming that the president’s donations and activities are aimed at benefiting the nation, and she committed to providing the necessary documentation to ensure transparency and accountability