(PAC) Gives Gulu University Management Ultimenutm to Account For  4 Billion UGX

By Adiga Julius

The public accounts committee of parliament has given Gulu university management up to April to account for unexplained variance in revenue collection to the tune of 4 billion shillings.

According to the auditor report for the financial for the year 2017/ 2018, summarized student receipts on platform indicated 7 billion shillings.

According to the 2017/2018 Auditor General’s report, the University collected non-tax revenue of Shs12 billion yet the management claimed the figure to 8.7 billion but without any documentary evidence.   

However, management disclosed receipts from educational services of financial performance reflecting unexplained variance in revenues collected of UGX 4.2 billion shillings, revenue balances which were not explained.

While appearing before the committee which was chaired by Hon. Okin P.P Ojara (IND, Chua West), the accounting officer of Gulu university Mr. Asaph  Asaph Adebua stated that the university collected 8.7 billion shillings as opposed to the UGX 12 billion disclosed in the financial statements indicating that this was a system error that would be adjusted.

However, the auditor general notes that there were no adjustments made to the accounts by the system.

Buyonyole west MP James Waluswaka also a member of the committee expressed concern why management never reported terror to the ministry of finance, saying the accounting officer and his team should be held accountable.

“Hon chair I find this very strange” I doubt whether a system can put its self-figures .these figures are put by you people, I doubt finance inputs the figures for you James Walusuwaka noted.

He demanded to know from the management, whether they wrote to the ministry of finance about the system error with evidence and response from the ministry.

“Chair unfortunately I think did not write to the ministry” but I sent them physically to meet the technical people in the ministry” Mr. Adebua explained.

The vice of the committee vice-chair  Okin P.P Ojara advised the university management to get in touch with Auditor General and provide them with evidence, warning that failure to satisfy the second audit, they should be ready to refund the missing Shs4 billion.

He said the university collected non-tax revenue (NTR) of 8.7 billion shillings within the financial year under review, saying that the 12 billion reported in accounts was a system error.

He added that the university endeavored to correct the error but at the time of the preparation of the accounts the ministry of finance had not approved the journal voucher but the university is following to ensure that the journal voucher is approved the ministry.

Mbarara Municipality MP Michael Tumusiime tasked to explain why university says it collected 8.7 billion, but auditor general report indicates 12 billion shillings.

“This is the point of contention, why are you claiming to have collected less whealus in your financial statement your indicating 12 billion, a member of the committee Michael Tusiime asked.

The Committee directed the Auditor General to conduct a forensic audit on the University accounts and report back to Parliament by April 2020.