The Uganda Public Accounts Committee (central authorities) has kicked off one other probe into the affairs of the Uganda Netball Federation (UNF) relating to unaccounted expenditure of Shs139,3 million (about N$718,400) throughout a 2021 journey to Namibia.
This question arises from the Ugandan auditor normal’s report for the 2020/2021 monetary yr noting that the Nationwide Council of Sports activities (NCS) disbursed Shs186 million (N$961 000) to UNF for preparation and participation of the She-Cranes within the 2021 Pent Sequence and the Africa Netball Championship, respectively, held in Namibia between 29 October and 17 November 2021.
Of the Shs186 million disbursed, Shs139,3 million was meant for lodging of the 27-members, whereas Shs9,6 million (N$50 000) was meant for visa charges, Shs6,7 million (N$35 000) for Covid-19 exams, Shs1,7 million (N$8 800) for medical exams, Shs5,3 million (N$27 400) for participation charges, Shs13,5 million (N$70 000) for gamers’ allowances and Shs10 million (N$52 000) for group kits.
Nevertheless, based on the auditor normal’s report, a overview of the invitation letter from Netball Namibia revealed that lodging prices whereas in Namibia had been to be absolutely coated by the hosts [Namibia].
Throughout the committee probe on Monday, the members of parliament famous that it was fraudulent for the netball federation to current receipts price Shs139,3 million in respect of lodging from Safari Lodges Namibia, but the merchandise was reportedly paid for by the host nation.
“In accordance to what’s on file, lodging was alleged to be supplied by the host. UNF and NCS have offered accountability indicating that they’d receipts for lodging. So, we have to know – was lodging supplied by the host or not? If that’s the case, the place are the paperwork?” mentioned committee deputy chairperson Asuman Basalirwa.
Netball Namibia president Rebecca Goagoses just lately mentioned they “knowledgeable Uganda NCS that we solely paid lodging for the Pent Sequence”.
NCS normal secretary Bernard Patrick Ogwel mentioned the disbursement of the funds for the Namibia journey was based mostly on a requisition formally communicated to them by UNF president Sarah Kityo.
“The requisition had the related paperwork which included an bill from Safari Lodges Namibia of US$39,033 equal to Shs139 million. Accountability paperwork together with vouchers had been submitted by UNF and we acquired it and forwarded to related committees,” Ogwel mentioned, including that the council didn’t know that the Namibian authorities had taken care of a part of the prices till they acquired a petition from some UNF officers who had been suspended by the federation president.
“Individuals who had been suspended by the president [Kityo] supplied extra data and we famous that the unique letter despatched from Namibia was truly not forwarded to us, and what was forwarded to us didn’t present the sponsorship by the Namibian authorities,” Dr Ogwel mentioned.
To assist his argument, Ogwel tabled to the committee all of the accountability paperwork from the federation, together with the invoices, vouchers and receipts on the Shs139 million expenditure.
In response, Kityo refuted stories that the Namibian authorities absolutely or partially coated prices and challenged NCS to supply proof.
“I would like NCS to current any proof that African champion paid even for a single bottle of water. It is a 2021 audit question and by now somebody from NCS or the ministry of schooling ought to have travelled to Namibia on a fact-finding mission,” she mentioned.
Kityo additionally denied a lot of the paperwork submitted by Ogwel saying there was a witch hunt by way of accountability of the Uganda Netball Federation.
Basalirwa mentioned the contested paperwork might be subjected to the Prison Investigation Division (CID) and handwriting specialists to rule out any instances of forgery.
On 11 Might, the committee, whereas probing the NCS, found loopholes within the accountability of Shs100 million allotted to UNF within the 2021/2022 monetary yr for the Worldwide Male Netball Championship in South Africa to facilitate the preparation of Ugandan males’s netball group, the Rock, to take part within the championship in South Africa in September 2021.
Following the invention, the committee handed Kityo, Richard Muhumuza (UNF vice chairman) and Aidah Nambusi (UNF treasurer) to the Parliament Police Prison Investigation Division for additional administration.
Each Muhumuza and Nambusi pointed fingers at their president for allegedly diverting an enormous chunk of the cash for her private use on the expense of the deliberate actions. -APO
Supply: namibian
