Uganda's Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, has called for a fresh audit of the Lubowa Specialised Hospital project. He questions the continued government funding of the project amid concerns over accountability and parliamentary access to the construction site. Ssenyonyi made the remarks during a media briefing, highlighting the need for transparency in the project's funding and implementation.
According to Ssenyonyi, members of his Shadow Cabinet attempted to inspect the project but were denied access. He expressed frustration, stating that the money allocated to the project is appropriated by Parliament, yet they are denied access to the site. This, he claims, raises concerns about accountability and the use of public funds.
Ssenyonyi revealed that similar attempts were made by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee in the previous Parliament, but access was delayed. He alleged that officials cited the need for protective gear for legislators, but the delay persisted, and the Parliament wound up without resolving the issue. This has led to concerns about the project's progress and the use of funds.
The Leader of Opposition plans to push Parliament to request the Auditor General to conduct a fresh audit of the project, which was last audited in 2022. He cited the Auditor General's report of 2022, which raised red flags about accountability for funds released to the project. Ssenyonyi also questioned the approval of an additional Shs100 billion in the budget for operationalising the hospital.
Ssenyonyi estimated that about Shs1.5 trillion has been invested in the project so far and called for an audit to establish whether taxpayers are receiving value for the money. He asked, "Can we have value for that money?" The opposition's objection to the allocation was defeated by the parliamentary majority, highlighting the need for Parliament to scrutinize the project's funding and implementation.
The Lubowa Specialised Hospital project has been receiving public money without adequate follow-up auditing, according to Ssenyonyi. He emphasized the need for Parliament to establish how the funds have been spent and why the project continues to receive funding without proper oversight. This has raised concerns about the project's accountability and the use of public funds.
The issue has sparked a renewed debate about the need for transparency and accountability in Uganda's public projects. Ssenyonyi's call for an audit has highlighted the importance of parliamentary oversight in ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and effectively. The project's progress and the use of funds will likely be scrutinized further in the coming days.
Key points
- Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi calls for a fresh audit of the Lubowa Specialised Hospital project amid concerns over accountability and funding.
- The project has received approximately Shs1.5 trillion in funding so far, with concerns raised about the value for money.
- Ssenyonyi's call for an audit aims to establish transparency and accountability in the project's funding and implementation.
