The Local Government Minister has flagged serious financial irregularities at Ntungamo District Local Government, calling for further scrutiny of officials involved. According to an external auditor's payroll analysis, the district lost an estimated Shs5.9 billion through various irregularities, including suspected payments to ghost workers. The minister raised these concerns during an accountability engagement at Ntungamo District headquarters as part of a government campaign against corruption.
The district's Principal Human Resource Officer, Jennifer Muhirwe, said a payroll clean-up had identified 38 uncertified ghost staff and 69 purported ghost health centres. She stated that staff in the health department who did not physically exist had been removed from the payroll. However, questions were also raised about Muhirwe's alleged involvement in advancing a loan to a deceased person.
Beyond payroll issues, the minister questioned other expenditures. He raised concerns about the procurement of three-seater desks distributed to 34 government schools at a reported cost of Shs182 million, with each desk reportedly costing Shs298,000. He also questioned reported expenditure of more than Shs130 million at Nyamurindira Primary School on a building with iron sheet roofing supplied through the Office of the Prime Minister.
During site inspections, the minister directed district authorities to allocate Shs36 million from the road fund for sanitation facilities and Shs60 million for classroom construction. He also visited a solar-powered production well where Shs45 million had been invested, but residents reported they still could not access water. The minister expressed concerns about unqualified recruitment and nepotism, insisting that public service appointments should be based on merit.