MPs on Public Accounts Committee has castigated officials from Uganda Heart Institute for returning Shs1.8Bn to the consolidated fund yet, they had earlier complained about the Shs5Bn budget cuts imposed on the Institute, that saw some patients die & others sent away due to lack funds for their treatment.
Dr. John Omagino, Executive Director of Uganda Heart Institute told MPs that the Shs1.8Bn returned to the Consolidated fund at the end of 2022/23 were funds meant for ground breaking ceremony, public relations, installation of power, water supply & sewerage lines, for the Institute’s new premises at Naguru, but the project suffered approval delays, prompting the return of funds to Government coffers.
Muwanga Kivumbi, Chairperson Public Accounts Committee asked Dr. Omangino to explain if the Institute sought permission from the Ministry of Finance to use these funds for the emergency activities like treatment of patients noting, “This money when you have an emergency, you can ask for a reallocation. Did you attempt to ask for it and it was denied? It is a big concern that you allowed money to go back and you are here complaining about budget cuts. So the budget cuts shocked you, you weren’t even able to utilize the little that you have.”
However Omangino insisted that delays of approvals was the reason money was returned to the treasury!
