By Flavia Ajok
District leaders in Masindi are struggling to explain as to why over Sh2.8 billion was returned to the central government treasury amidst poor performance and service delivery.
Cosmas Byaruhanga, the Masndi LCV chairman says the district was unable to spend over Sh2bn during the financial year 2022/2023 that ended on 30th June.
Records indicate that, Masindi district local government returned to the treasury Shs155.3m for Pension; Sh396.3m for Gratuity; Sh1bn for salaries and Sh1.1bn for capital development.
Byaruhanga adds that, money for capital development was meant for the construction of Kijunjubwa and Pakanyi Secondary Schools.
Byaruhanga accepted that, it wasn’t good to return back money to the center because it affects delivery of services within the district.
Pamela Nyakato, the district secretary for finance, planning and administration says some employees never turned up for the validation exercise and their salaries couldn’t be paid.
She adds that, gratuity money couldn’t also be paid because files of pensioners were not prepared in time. She adds that Masindi received more money for wages than what was expected.