Uganda Cuts Audit Office Budget, Limiting Government Oversight.
Uganda's national audit office faces a $8.5 million budget cut, which will force it to skip checks on most government spending next year.
The Office of the Auditor General will examine only 40% of state agencies and local governments in 2024-25. The cuts remove 60% of funds needed for field work.
"This affects how many reports we can produce," said Stephen Kateregga, Assistant Auditor General for Corporate Services. The office's total budget stands at $29 million.
The changes limit oversight as new programs, including a rural development initiative, called the Parish Development Model, need review.
Parliament pledged support after meeting Auditor General Edward Akol. "We will find ways to help your office do its job," said Finance Committee Chair Amos Kankunda.
The audit office launched new digital tools to boost public input. A feedback platform lets citizens report service problems, and a tracking system shows progress on past audit findings.
These online tools appear on the office website, showing updates for each agency and the entire government.
The budget cuts come as the office needs more staff and vehicles to inspect growing government programs. Officials met with Parliament and the Finance Ministry but received no firm promises to restore funding.
Kankunda praised the office for fighting corruption and poor service delivery and promised to help them monitor how public money is spent.
Uganda's national audit office faces a $8.5 million budget cut, which will force it to skip checks on most government spending next year.
The Office of the Auditor General will examine only 40% of state agencies and local governments in 2024-25. The cuts remove 60% of funds needed for field work.
"This affects how many reports we can produce," said Stephen Kateregga, Assistant Auditor General for Corporate Services. The office's total budget stands at $29 million.
The changes limit oversight as new programs, including a rural development initiative, called the Parish Development Model, need review.
Parliament pledged support after meeting Auditor General Edward Akol. "We will find ways to help your office do its job," said Finance Committee Chair Amos Kankunda.
The audit office launched new digital tools to boost public input. A feedback platform lets citizens report service problems, and a tracking system shows progress on past audit findings.
These online tools appear on the office website, showing updates for each agency and the entire government.
The budget cuts come as the office needs more staff and vehicles to inspect growing government programs. Officials met with Parliament and the Finance Ministry but received no firm promises to restore funding.
Kankunda praised the office for fighting corruption and poor service delivery and promised to help them monitor how public money is spent.