MPs Query UWEC Over Unexplained Expenditure
The parliamentary committee of trade has today quizzed officials of Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center over alleged mismanagement of public funds. It was found out that the agency has been collecting money through different channels and spends it at the source without the approval of parliament.
The agency has lost over 6bn revenue due to the Covid-19 induced restrictions.
Members of the parliamentary committee of trade have grilled officials of Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center after discovering that 1.2bn shillings has been lying idle on their accounts for a full year, yet the agency is battling with financial shortages due to the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The committee also discovered that UWEC has been collecting money through fundraising drives to support its operations under the pandemic and spend it at the source without authorization which is against the Public finance Management Act. The committee has sent them back to return tomorrow with bank statements of all their accounts.
The Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre has lost revenue amounting to 6bn since Covid-19 struck last year.
However, the agency seeks 44bn shillings to establish four satellite Zoos in different regions of the country, starting with a pilot mini-zoo Mbarara City.
As covid-19 continues to ravage the tourism sector UWCEC is devising means of promoting online tourism.
