MPs Grill Finance Officials Over Shs7.7 Trillion Unapproved Spending, Shs3.4 Trillion Investment Discrepancy

What the report says

Uganda’s Parliament Public Accounts Committee has questioned senior officials at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development over large gaps in the country’s financial statements and what lawmakers described as weak budget control. The session, chaired by Kassanda North MP Patrick Nsamba, involved Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi and Acting Accountant General Godfrey Ssemugooma.

According to the Nile Post report, MPs focused on a Shs7.7 trillion spending variance under Treasury Operations, a Shs3.4 trillion mismatch in reported government investment figures, and a separate discrepancy tied to external borrowing and securities transactions. Treasury officials offered explanations tied to domestic debt arrears, non-cash items and accounting treatment, but lawmakers said the ministry had not provided enough supporting schedules or reconciliations.

The committee also revisited a diversion of funds meant for debt repayment to the International Development Association and the African Development Fund. The ministry said one payment was returned while another was intercepted and diverted, and it has since made an accounting provision for the unrecovered money. The case is already before the Anti-Corruption Court, where several former and interdicted officials face charges.

Beyond those figures, MPs pressed the ministry on unauthorized reallocations by government agencies, the use of holding accounts outside the Consolidated Fund, and broader discipline in public finance management. Ggoobi said the ministry had tightened controls, introduced a charter for accounting officers and ordered further audit work, while MPs warned that repeated discrepancies could undermine oversight and public trust.