Bundibugyo district has diverted part of the funds meant for the health sector to pay debts.
According to an internal audit report a copy of which Uganda Radio Network has obtained, the money worth 700 million shillings was withdrawn in March 2012 from the district account and paid to service providers who owed the district more than 500 million shillings in debts.
In the 2011/2012 budget, the health sector was allocated 1.7 billion shillings.
According to the report, 300 million shillings was used to pay water and electricity bills which had accumulated for three years. Another 400 million shillings was used to pay for stationery services for which the district hasn’t been paying for three years, and repairing district vehicles.
The diversion of the money has forced the health department to halt implementation of some of the activities which it had planned to implement in the 2011/2012 financial year.
The diverted funds were supposed to renovate five health centres in Bubukwanga, Nyahuka, Ntandi, Bubandi and Itojo sub counties; train Village Health Teams (VHTs); improve the sanitation at Bundibugyo hospital; and purchase drugs and mosquito nets.
Gerald Mwesige, the deputy Chief Administrative Officer, says that the decision to divert the funds was reached at during a meeting with the district executive committee chaired by the district chairperson.
Mwesige says that the district didn’t have any funds to pay the debts, which prompted them to use the funds from the health department.
He says that the money will be reimbursed to the health department in the next financial year 2012/2013.
Dr. Geoffrey Bagonza, the acting district health officer, says that he wasn’t consulted before the funds were diverted. He says that he got to know about it when he demanded for funds to purchase mosquito nets for Bundibugyo hospital and health centres.
Bagonza also says that they will be forced to close some of the health centres, because they are in a bad state. He says that some of the health centres leak and the sanitation is also appalling.
He explains that they don’t expect any money from the district, since the financial year is coming to an end. Mwesige says that they have written to the Ministry of Health over the matter.
Vincent Mugisha, the medical superintendent Bundibugyo hospital accused the district of neglecting the health department. Mugisha says that the hospital was supposed to purchase mosquito nets for the patients, because some patients can’t afford them.
This is the second time Bundibugyo district has diverted funds meant for service delivery. In March, it diverted 400 million shillings to pay staff who sued the district for wrongful dismissal.
