Africa-Press – Uganda. The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has come down hard on officials from Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital over the unauthorized diversion of Shs3.5 billion, raising serious concerns about transparency and financial accountability at the institution.
Led by Accounting Officer Dr. Julie Nakku, Butabika Hospital officials were questioned during a committee session held to address findings in the Auditor General’s report for the 2023/2024 financial year.
The committee, chaired by MP Muwanga Kivumbi, faulted the hospital for failing to obtain parliamentary approval before redirecting the funds—an act deemed illegal under public finance regulations.
“We are concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability in the hospital’s financial management,” Kivumbi said, citing major lapses, including the failure to integrate the revenue billing system with the hospital’s medical records system.
He warned that reliance on manual, weekly invoicing increases the risk of financial errors and potential fraud.
During the session, the hospital’s Senior Accountant was placed under oath to explain the diversion. However, he struggled to justify why budget outputs were not supported by individual activity costings and detailed budgets.
In addition to financial irregularities, the committee raised concerns about prolonged patient stays.
The report revealed that 150 patients had remained admitted for over a month, 75 for more than a year, and 20 for more than two years—putting immense pressure on the hospital’s limited bed capacity and resources.
“Prolonged stays can lead to a shortage of available beds and resources, affecting the hospital’s ability to admit new patients,” Kivumbi noted.
Due to the unsatisfactory responses from the officials, the committee adjourned the meeting prematurely and ordered the hospital team to reappear next Tuesday with a computer-generated trial balance.
The probe into Butabika’s finances comes amid broader scrutiny of public institutions and their handling of taxpayer funds.
The committee’s insistence on system integration and proper documentation reflects Parliament’s growing demand for digital accountability and transparent budgeting processes.
As the investigation continues, Parliament is expected to recommend tighter controls and possible sanctions if no satisfactory explanation is provided.
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