PAC Local Govt Orders Masindi CAO & HRO to Pay 17M

PAC Local Govt Orders Masindi CAO & HRO to Pay 17M.
The Duo Caused Govt Financial Losses through Overpayments

The Parliamentary Committee on Local Government Public Accounts Committee has directed the former Masindi District CAO and the Principle Human Resource Officer to cough 17.5m from their pockets after discovering that they overpaid Shs11.44m to some district staff and Shs6.06m to ghost staff.

The two were held by police to record a statement causing the government a financial loss after conceding that there was negligence on their side that led to the overpayment.

PAC Local government chaired by the Bardege-Layibi Division MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi interfaced with Masindi District officials over queries raised by the Auditor-General in the financial year ended June 2021.

The committee ordered for recovery of 11.44m from the Principle Human Resource Officer of Masindi District Cyrus Opigo and the former CAO Geoffrey Nkurunziza individual accounts after the duo conceded to paying staff 11.44m over and above their emoluments in error.

.The committee was disappointed after officials presented no clear plans to recover the money and handed over the two to police CID attached to parliament to record a statement over a criminal offense of causing the government a financial loss.

One month was given to the current CAO to pay the Shs1.55m that was underpaid to some district staff.
The committee Chairperson Mapenduzi also directed police to investigate circumstances under which 37.42m was overpaid to pensioners under pension and gratuity.

PAC Local government also grilled Masindi District Officials over delayed deletion of staff from Payroll that saw Shs6m paid to ghost staff who has retired and others died. Mapenduzi ordered the district CAO to recover this money from Opigo and Nkurunziza.