The Ministry of Finance is currently conducting an investigation to determine the source of public funds used for a recent trip by 71 government officials who traveled to New York for the 78th United Nations General Assembly. The two groups of officials, representing the Office of the Vice President and the Prime Minister’s Office, are reported to have spent over Shs2 billion on allowances and travel expenses for the trip.
The news of the substantial expenditure on the trip sparked outrage among citizens, who believe that the funds could have been better utilized in critical sectors of the economy. Patrick Ocailap, the deputy secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance, expressed his dissatisfaction with the expenditure and mentioned that they are waiting for the officials to return and provide details on the funding source.
Ocailap stated that they would scrutinize the expenditures, review the budget allocations for the trip, and make adjustments as needed. Any wasteful expenditure beyond the allocated budget may result in re-adjustments to the concerned offices’ budgets for the financial year.
He also pointed out that some expenditures, such as duty allowances for officials conducting business abroad, are not considered wasteful, as they are essential for the operations of certain institutions like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its missions abroad.
The investigation into the source of funds and the expenditure for the New York trip is ongoing, with a focus on ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.