DOKOLO– Dokolo district Chief Administrative Officer [CAO] Isa Mbooge, has brushed off accusations brought against him by the district LCV Chairman James Otto Apili, as unfounded, the CAO adding that he is grateful for having been posted to the district.
On March 31, 2022 Chairman Otto wrote to the Minister of Local Government [MoLG] Raphael Magyezi, asking for the immediate transfer of Mbooge, accusing him of inability to bring services to the people and sabotaging development of the district.
According to Otto, Mbooge also failed to appear before the Committee of Parliament on National Economy who were recently in the district to assess the Agricultural Cluster Development Project [ACDP].
He also accused the CAO of failing to provide draft budget estimates for the financial year [FY] 2022/23 as required by law and failure to utilize the Shs 23 million for third quarter FY 2022/2023 under Uganda Road Fund.
Otto also accused Mbooge of failing to utilize the court fund of Shs 48 million for FY 2021/22.
Otto in his letter also feared that money worth Shs 300mln for the construction of staff quarters in the two health centers of Aweki and Adok was likely to be returned to the consolidated fund.
He further alleged that Mbooge is being followed by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for allegedly paying ghost workers [Teachers].
However, in his response through a letter dated April 13, 2022, addressed to the Local Government Ministry Permanent Secretary, Mbooge denied all and clarified some of the accusations brought against him by the district Chairman.
For instance, the allegation of failing to meet MPs on parliament is Committee on National Economy, Mbooge said he met the MPs in Kumi district accompanied by other district staff. He even presented photos of the meeting with the legislators.
“It is true the parliamentary Committee on national economy had scheduled to be in Dokolo on Tuesday 15st March, 2022 at 10: 00 am to interact with various stakeholders. However, at the same time the Ministry of Education had scheduled the official commissioning of Bata Seed School on that very day which was earlier been earmarked at 10:00 am but we adjusted it to be at 2:00pm to be able to accommodate the Parliamentary Committee in the morning hours.
But due to unavoidable circumstances members of the Parliamentary Committee on national economy arrived at 3:00 pm when I had proceeded to Bata Seed School. By the time I arrived at the District, the committee had ruled that the entire team of Dokolo District should follow them to Kumi on Wednesday 16th March, 2022 at 8:00 am and interact with the committee. We complied and went to Kumi District Headquarters and interacted with the committee.”
On the accusation of having failed to provide draft budget estimates for FY 2022/23 as required by law, Mbooge said: “It’s true we couldn’t lay the budget by 31st March, 2022 due to the fact that the Draft Budget window could not open on the PBS which the annual estimates are a aligned and extracted had not been uploaded due to system challenges from the Ministry of Finance and there was no way we could go ahead to lay a none authentic budget estimates for the sake of beating deadlines without putting into consideration authentic IPF from the Ministry of Finance Planning & Economic Development.
On the alleged failure to utilise the Shs 23 million for third quarter of FY 2022/23 under Uganda Road Fund, Mbooge said the utilization of road funds budget was confused by the district chairperson himself who gave a directive to the district engineer in the committee meeting of Works and Technical services that he shouldnt do any road works beyond 1.7 mln per kilometer of the road. “On realizing this confusion I had to communicate to the district engineer directing him to implement the road works as per the approved budget and work plan, disregarding the District chairperson’s directive.”
On the failure to utilize the court fund of Shs 48mln for FY 2021/2022, Mbooge said: “Its true the Shs 48mln for payments of court cases was budgeted under local revenue. “So far out of the realized local revenue we have paid M/s Kania advocates shillings 15,000,000. Subsequent payments to be effected as local revenue is realized.”
On the alleged release of money for work that was not done in FY 2021/2022 to upgrade Adagmon and Awelo Health Center III, the accounting officer denied saying he has never effected payment to that effect.
“I have never effected any payment for work not done, these works for upgrade of these health centres were certified and payment effected and the works were completed and already in use.”
On Shs 300mln for building of staff quarters for Adok and Awelo health centres which the chairman feared is likely to be returned to the consolidated fund, Mbooge said the delay in awarding of the contracts was due to the confusion from the Ministry of Health, “Who in August, 202L directed us not to advertise for any works under the Health sector as they were still negotiating with the UPDF Engineering Brigade.”
He said his office got clearance to go ahead with the procurement of a contractor in February 2022. “We immediately placed an advertisement which is attached for ease of reference. We are in the final process of awarding these works as per the PPDA guidelines.”
Mbooge dismissed the allegation of paying ghost workers [teachers] and being followed by State House Anticorruption Unit.
“I have never at any one time paid a ghost worker or staff in Dokolo District. What is being referred to as ghost workers are actually our established staff whose health were incapacitated due to ill health and some ended up passing on without bringing to our attention, especially during the Covid 19 pandemic,” he said.
“And immediately we realized the passing of these staff, they were deactivated from the payroll. This case was handled and concluded by the Anti-Corruption Unit of State House. The Ministry of Local Government is yet to respond to the two conflicting parties.”
He also dismissed the accusation of failure to take administrative measures on remittances of 10 percent by headteachers to the district officials.
“This is an allegation by the district chairperson himself without substantial evidence and its being handled by the District Police Commander Dokolo District together with the Resident State Attorney, Dokolo District as per the attached communication,” he said.
Isa Mbooge was posted to Dokolo District on July 1, 2019.
https://thecooperator.news/minister-obua-queries-shs-546m-released-to-dokolo-schools/
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