Over shillings 140 million disbursed under the Northern Uganda Social Action Funds [NUSAF] phase one in Kitgum and Lamwo districts is unaccounted for. Leaders of the affected projects have failed to account for the money and disappeared without a trace.
Some of the affected projects are Agoro Elders' livestock sub project, Guu United Widows and widower's poultry project, Wilobo Konya, Ribber Foster Parents and Orom Langanyura. Each of the projects received between shillings 6 and 18 million shillings but has failed to account for the money.
In Orom sub-county, the entire management team of Orom Langanyura project has fled the area because of failing to account for the NUSAF funds. Grace Lakot, a member of the group says that she cannot trace the leaders of their project.
Lakot explains that they wrote a sub-project for goat rearing but there is nothing to show for the project. Lakot explains that she only learnt that her group received shillings 14 million from the district NUSAF team that visited their area to check on the progress of the project.
In Paloga sub-county, Riber Foster Parents Association received shillings 10 million for restocking cattle. However, only 3 cows were bought using the NUSAF money. Evelyn Oroma, the treasurer of Riber Foster Parents Association says that she doesn't know how the money was withdrawn from the project account.
Oroma says that since she was appointed treasurer, James Okullu, chairperson Riber Foster Parents Association and his secretary Martin Oola have been operating the project account. Oroma says that the duo took advantage of her inability to read and write to draw money from the project accounts.
Stella Opu, Kitgum and Lamwo district NUSAF technical officer says that all groups that have failed to account for the project funds have been black listed and will not receive funds in the second phase of the project.
//Cue in: "Definitely there will be no situation...
Cue out: ...as a group benefit under NUSAF II"
Opu says the first phases of NUSAF had weaknesses that allowed members of the same family to write sub-projects. She says that under the new guidelines, benefiting projects will be selected by community members after serious scrutiny.
She says that her office will soon start tracing the signatories of the funds through their bank accounts for prosecution.
//Cue in: "As a district, what we have done is...
Cue out: "...cases who have not come forward"
Opu says that they are left with no option but to involve police in hunting down for the suspects.
