PAC grills Mulago Hospital over failure to utilise Shs 4bn for salaries
Legislators who sit on the Public Accounts Committee have tasked Mulago National Referral Hospital Executive Director, Dr. Byarugaba Baterana, to explain the hospital’s failure to absorb Shs4 billion meant for salaries of new staff.
The Auditor General’s report for the Financial Year 2020/2021 shows that a total of Shs4,193,961,930 meant for salaries was sent back to the Consolidated Fund amidst an outcry of low staffing at the hospital.
Legislators argue that the hospital acted irresponsibly when it failed to push the recruiting bodies; the Health Service Commission and Ministry of Public Service to ensure the staff budgeted for are recruited.
Tororo district Woman MP, Hon. Sarah Opendi argues that there are many jobless health workers who are in need of jobs and wondered how Mulago could hoard such an amount of money only to return it to the centre.
Baterana reveals that attempts to recruit staff were made but only a few were hired.
The hospital’s Principal Accountant, Abdul Kiiza, blames the failed recruitment on public service claiming the body recruits based on attrition.
Opendi, who once served as the State Minister for Health (General duties), notes that it is urgent for Mulago to be empowered to handle recruitments on its own if it is to function.
The committee deputy chairperson, Hon. Asuman Basalirwa, said Opendi’s proposal will be studied and included in the committee report for consideration by Parliament.
Source: Parliament of Uganda
