Members of Parliament (MPs) sitting on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have criticized officials from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs for violating the Public Finance Management Act, as highlighted in the Auditor General's report for 2023/2024. The officials are accused of diverting 85 billion shillings intended for cattle compensation to cover other expenses without parliamentary approval.
The ministry officials claimed that the funds were used to settle legitimate cattle compensation claims under domestic arrears. However, they failed to provide detailed figures or particulars of the beneficiaries in regions such as Teso, Gulu, and West Nile, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the payments.
Additionally, the committee expressed concerns over the handling of quota awardees' claims and 2 billion shillings allocated for human rights claims, despite widespread reports of human rights abuses in the country. The officials asserted that they had fully paid claims amounting to less than 200 million shillings, but MPs remain skeptical due to the lack of transparent and verifiable information.
The PAC has called for a thorough investigation into the matter and urged the Ministry of Justice to provide comprehensive documentation to substantiate their claims. The committee emphasized the need for accountability and adherence to financial regulations to prevent further misuse of public funds.
