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The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs has come under fire for its handling of a maize production scheme, with legislators questioning an alleged overinflated budget and financial mismanagement. Led by Undersecretary Edith Butuuro, ministry officials faced probing questions from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday regarding the discrepancies highlighted in the Auditor General’s report for the Financial Year ending June 2023.
According to the report, the ministry’s investment of Shs21 billion in the Strategic Intervention on Food and Animal Feed Security fell drastically short, generating only Shs9 billion instead of the projected Shs37 billion from sales. This underperformance amounted to a significant shortfall of Shs28.9 billion, representing a 76 percent underperformance, as stated in the report.
Furthermore, the Auditor General’s findings revealed that out of the planned 14,709 acres earmarked for cultivation, only 8,958 acres were actually cultivated, indicating a substantial gap between targets and actual implementation.
Committee Chairperson Muwanga Kivumbi expressed dismay over the lack of proper planning before investing public funds, emphasizing the need for accountability and effective resource allocation to avoid wastage. He criticized the ministry for what he perceived as reckless spending without ensuring tangible results.
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In response to queries raised by legislators, Undersecretary Edith Butuuro explained that the costing for the maize production scheme was determined by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), as approved by the cabinet. The initiative, conceived in 2022 to address food and animal feed insecurity, involved collaboration with various entities, including UPDF Farms, Prisons, and NEC.
UPDF Chief of Production and Welfare, Maj Gen Sam Kiwanuka, shed light on the process involved in implementing the maize production scheme, citing expenses related to bush clearing, equipment rental, and labor costs. However, despite these explanations, concerns persisted regarding the efficacy and transparency of the expenditure.
Additionally, the Auditor General flagged another issue concerning the failure to provide an irrigation system worth Shs259 million, despite payments being made for the system. This discrepancy further raised doubts about the accountability and proper utilization of funds within the ministry.
Legislators expressed frustration over what they perceived as mismanagement and inefficiency within the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, emphasizing the need for stringent oversight and corrective measures to address the identified shortcomings in financial management and project implementation.
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