Tororo returns Shs5.3bn to treasury as leaders call for lifting on ban on recruitment

Tororo district authorities have appealed  to the  Ministry of Public Service to  lift the ban on recruitment after shs5.3 billion was returned to the treasury.

During the financial year 2023/24, Tororo local government passed a budget totaling to over shs71.2billion  for extension of services to its population of over 600,000 people.

Out of this, the district failed to utilize over shs5.3billion by the end of the financial year, forcing authorities to return the cash to the consolidated fund.

" It's very difficult to fully utilize the funds to zero level, not even ministry of finance can do it. So, returning money to the national treasury isn't bad but the focus should instead be on how the monies have been spent " Richard Atama, the Tororo Chief administrative officer said.

The monies returned include, shs4.2billion  meant for salaries, shs745 million for pension, shs293 million for capital development, shs43 million  for salary arrears, shs24 million for non wages and shs 13 million shillings for pension and gratuity arrears.

The return of these monies especially wages has left the district with a huge staffing gap.

" Our district staffing gap is currently standing at 46% but if you go to our hospital, the staffing gap is at 50%. So, you find workers, working day and night ," said John Okea, the district chairperson.

To  the chief administrative officer , the beneficiaries are to be blamed for the mess.

" Some of beneficiaries after retiring, they disappear and gets back 10 years  to follow with their payments. So this  leaves us with no solution but to let the money go back,"Atama, added

The district technocrats however say, their failure to utilize the funds cannot be blamed on them saying some of the funds were actually returned due to restrictions by some ministries.

For instance, the salary cash was returned due to a ban on recruitment by ministry of public service.