By Naome Namusoke/KMA Updates
The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has requested an additional UGX2.4 billion in the 2026/2027 financial year to roll out initiatives aimed at actively involving citizens in the auditing of public funds, a proposal that sparked sharp scrutiny from Members of Parliament over its impact and tangible outcomes.
The request was presented by Mr. Stephen Katerega, the Assistant Auditor General in charge of Corporate Affairs, while appearing before Parliament’s Finance Committee on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, during the presentation of the OAG’s 2026/27 National Budget Framework Paper (NBFP).
Katerega told MPs that the proposed funding would support a citizen-centered audit approach designed to enhance transparency, accountability, and public trust in the management of public resources. He explained that similar initiatives have been adopted by other supreme audit institutions globally, with positive results in ensuring audit findings translate into real impact.
“We want to implement this initiative to see how we can involve the citizens in our audit processes. It is something that other audit institutions are now doing and it is very effective in ensuring that whatever we do creates the impact desired. So, we are requesting for UGX2.4 billion to undertake this,” Katerega said.
According to the OAG, citizen participation would include community engagements, feedback mechanisms, and public monitoring of government projects, particularly at the local government level where service delivery gaps are often most pronounced.
However, the proposal drew tough questions from legislators, who challenged the OAG to demonstrate the tangible impact of its audit reports, particularly in terms of funds recovered and action taken against individuals cited for corruption.
Several MPs asked the Auditor General’s office to account for how much money has been recovered from corrupt officials named in past audit reports and whether increased funding for citizen engagement would lead to improved enforcement and accountability.
Lawmakers expressed concern that while audit reports are routinely produced and debated in Parliament, implementation of recommendations and recovery of lost funds remains weak.
In response to MPs’ concerns, Katerega emphasized that citizen engagement is intended to complement not replace existing accountability mechanisms, by ensuring audit findings resonate at the grassroots and put pressure on duty bearers to act.
The Finance Committee is expected to further interrogate the OAG’s budget proposals before making recommendations to Parliament ahead of the approval of the 2026/27 national budget.
As debates continue, the proposal has reignited discussions on how best to translate audit findings into concrete action, recover stolen public funds, and restore public confidence in the management of national resources.
