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The Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending June 2023 uncovered financial malpractice within Ntoroko District, where over Shs300 million was disbursed to non-existent employees in a damning revelation. The report deemed this payment to 21 individuals, who failed to participate in the validation exercise, as a significant financial loss to the government.
According to the audit findings, out of the 809 district employees, only 750 were successfully verified during the validation exercise. However, 38 employees, representing 5 percent of the workforce, were unable to meet the validation requirements. Shockingly, 21 staff members failed to attend the exercise altogether but remained on the payroll, resulting in the disbursement of Shs304.3 million in salaries.
Among the discrepancies highlighted in the report, seven individuals who participated in the validation exercise did not access the payroll by June 2023. Additionally, irregular appointments were made for 29 Grade III teachers in 2018, citing non-existent minute numbers. Nine individuals lacked proper documentation from the appointing district service commission, with three of them transferring services from Bundibugyo District without traceable appointment minutes.
Further scrutiny revealed inconsistencies in the details of 184 employees on the payroll, including discrepancies in date of birth and data captured by the National Identification and Registration Authority (Nira) on National IDs. The audit also uncovered that 86 employees were not paid salaries, amounting to Shs225.8 million, over three financial years from 2019/2020 to 2022/2023.
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In light of these findings, the Auditor General recommended that the district accounting officer take immediate action to recover the misappropriated funds.
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