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Writes Brian Mugenyi

 

In the quiet countryside of Kamuzinda in Masaka District, where the dreams of many young people are often shaped by the opportunities available around them, a classroom revolution is quietly taking place.

It is here that Mr. Oscar Mutebi, the Private Secretary in State House and Personal Assistant to former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, found a story of determination, sacrifice and vision during a Music, Dance and Drama event at Molly and Paul Secondary School.

Standing before excited learners, teachers and community members, Mr. Mutebi watched as students used drama and music to communicate messages about society, challenges affecting communities and the need for responsible citizenship.

“Taxation and segregation of people for work and in the community is what I learnt from the exhibited play and drama of the students. It portrays real-life events and how people survive,” Mr. Mutebi said.

His words reflected a deeper message beyond the performances — that education is not only about classrooms and examinations but also about preparing young people to understand society and become agents of change.

Mr. Mutebi praised the founders of Molly and Paul Secondary School, Mr. Paul and Ms Molly, for their visionary decision to establish an education institution in Kamuzinda, describing the school as an example of how determination and investment can transform rural communities.

The school, which has grown into a centre of learning in Kyanamukaka Town Council, has offered opportunities to students who previously travelled long distances to access secondary education.

During the event held on Wednesday, Mr. Mutebi pledged to support the school’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) department by providing computers to enable learners acquire digital skills.

“In this quarter of the financial year, we shall be able to extend social services to people. Molly and Paul is my home village school, and I shall support it with computers,” he said.

He also promised to provide additional learning support, including a public address system and television sets, to help students access information and improve their learning environment.

Mr. Mutebi thanked Mr. George William Ssebbatta, Aunt Molly and Uncle Paul for establishing what he described as a multi-purpose school that is changing the education landscape of rural Masaka.

He challenged communities to embrace individuals and investors who bring development opportunities instead of discouraging their efforts.

“We cannot develop without treating investors well and ensuring that we are grateful for their contribution to the community. Instead of involving ourselves in politics, let us prioritise working for the people,” he said.

After the engagement at Molly and Paul Secondary School, Mr. Mutebi visited St. Mugaga Secondary School where he interacted with students and encouraged them to develop discipline, a reading culture and interest in current affairs.

While joining students in entertainment activities, including dancing to popular Ugandan songs, Mr. Mutebi reminded learners that success begins with confidence, hard work and determination.

“I appeal to you to work hard and believe that everything is possible in life as long as you dream big,” he told the students.

The interaction created a memorable moment as students danced, shared meals and interacted freely with the State House official.

Mr. Mutebi said young people must prepare themselves to become future leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs capable of contributing to Uganda’s transformation.

Kyanamukaka Town Council Mayor Hon. Zaina Nakidde applauded the school founders for investing in education and attracting support from development partners, including Mr. Adam William and Ms Janet from the United States of America.

“They set up structures and provided support for the school and students in our area. This is a model school where I am also a parent,” she said.

Ms Nakidde urged residents to protect and support education initiatives, saying education remains the strongest foundation for transforming communities.

According to Mr. Paul, one of the school founders, Molly and Paul Secondary School is a product of faith, hard work and community cooperation.

“I want to thank Mr. Oscar Mutebi because he is very supportive to the community, just like his grandfather Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, and also my sponsor Mr. William from the United States,” he said.

He explained that the idea of establishing the school began as a dream through prayer but later developed into a reality after receiving support from the community and well-wishers.

For years, learners from Kyanamukaka depended on schools such as Kitovu Technical Institute, St. Mugaga Secondary School and Kabwoko Secondary School. Today, Molly and Paul Secondary School stands as a growing institution offering hope and expanding access to quality education in rural Masaka.

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The official cause of death of Jurassic Park star Sam Neill has been revealed days after the beloved actor’s passing.

Neill died from pneumonia, his longtime agent, Philip Grenz, confirmed, saying the family decided to release the information to correct inaccurate reports and speculation surrounding his death.

The acclaimed New Zealand actor died on July 13 in Sydney at the age of 78. His family had earlier described his passing as “sudden and unexpected” but did not disclose a cause at the time.

Grenz also clarified that Neill did not die from cancer.

The actor had been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2022 but was declared cancer-free earlier this year after undergoing CAR T-cell therapy.

Best known for playing Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, Neill enjoyed a career spanning more than five decades, with acclaimed performances in films including The Piano, Possession and The Hunt for Red October, as well as television roles in Peaky Blinders and The Tudors.

His family plans to hold a private memorial at his New Zealand farm, honoring the actor’s wish for a quiet farewell.

Tributes from fans and fellow actors have continued to pour in, celebrating a career that left a lasting mark on cinema around the world.

FIFA has unveiled a blockbuster entertainment lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with global music stars, actors and internet personalities set to perform across the tournament’s opening ceremonies, closing ceremony and the competition’s first-ever halftime show.

The expanded 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, began on June 11 in Mexico City and will conclude with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Three host nations, three opening ceremonies

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, each host nation staged its own opening ceremony, celebrating its culture and music.

Mexico City’s opening ceremony featured performances by Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules and Maná, alongside South African star Tyla.

Toronto’s celebration showcased Canadian talent, including Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi and William Prince, with additional performances by Elyanna, Sanjoy and Vegedream.

Los Angeles hosted the United States opening ceremony, bringing together Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema, and Tyla for a star-powered celebration.

FIFA introduces first-ever World Cup final halftime show

One of the tournament’s biggest innovations is the introduction of the FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show.

Taking place during the July 19 final at New York New Jersey Stadium, the historic performance will be co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber.

The show will also feature Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus, with Coldplay‘s Chris Martin serving as curator in partnership with Global Citizen.

The halftime show supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world.

Star-studded closing ceremony before the final

Before the final kicks off, FIFA will also stage a closing ceremony featuring Post Malone as the headline performer.

The pre-match celebration will include Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Hudson, who will perform the United States national anthem, internet personality IShowSpeed and actor Tom Cruise, who is scheduled to make a special appearance.

With entertainment spread across multiple events rather than a single concert, FIFA is combining football, music and global culture on an unprecedented scale, making the 2026 tournament one of the most ambitious World Cups in the competition’s history.

An artist rehearses without missing a note. Minutes later, the same singer walks onto the stage and suddenly cannot sing.

Jackie Chandiru says she has watched that happen more than once, and it remains one of the many experiences in Uganda’s music industry she still struggles to explain.

The veteran singer shared the experience during an interview on After 5, saying some of the incidents she has witnessed over the years continue to leave her with more questions than answers.

I have seen situations where an artist is singing perfectly backstage, but the moment they are announced and step onto the stage, they completely lose their voice.

For Jackie, the mystery does not end with performers.

She says she has also watched live shows unravel even when everything appeared ready just moments before the audience arrived.

There are moments when everything is working perfectly, then suddenly the microphone stops working or the performance falls apart without any clear explanation.

Uganda’s entertainment industry has never been short of stories about strange occurrences.

Some musicians blame witchcraft or juju for careers that stall and performances that go wrong, while others dismiss those claims altogether.

Jackie Chandiru chose neither side.

Instead, she spoke about the moments she has personally witnessed and the questions they continue to raise.

I have seen those kinds of incidents, and they make you wonder.

Ray G has ruled out taking part in music battles, saying the stage is where he connects with his fans, not where he competes with fellow artists.

The Western Uganda music star believes every performance should revolve around the audience rather than the artist sharing the stage.

That is why the growing popularity of music battles has never appealed to him.

No, I cannot battle. What I am doing is not something for battling.

Ray G said he gives every show his full attention because he wants fans to enjoy the experience he has prepared for them.

I connect with the fans that I have prepared a show for. I want to sing freely, be pleasant on stage, and perform for them.

He believes a battle shifts an artist’s focus away from the audience and towards outperforming someone else on stage.

Then I put my effort into competing with another person on stage? No. I am not giving what I should be giving in a battle.

Instead of treating music as a contest, Ray G sees it as an opportunity to serve the fans who continue to support his career.

I do not believe in battles. A battle for what?

He summed up his philosophy in Luganda, saying:

Guno omulimu si gwakukakasa, gwa kwetowaaza n’okusanyusa abaana baffe n’ennyimba ennungi.

For Ray G, music is about serving fans, creating memorable experiences and entertaining people with good music.

The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), the constitutional body established to fight discrimination and promote fairness for all Ugandans, has found itself on the receiving end of tough scrutiny after the Auditor General uncovered a string of financial management weaknesses ranging from ballooning domestic arrears and unauthorized expenditure to off-budget financing and procurement outside the approved procurement plan.

The findings are contained in the Auditor General’s report on the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) for the financial year covered by the December 2025 audit.

Although the Commission received an unqualified audit opinion, the report identifies several accountability and financial management concerns that place the institution under renewed pressure to explain how public resources were managed.

The Commission is currently chaired by Safia Nalule Jjuuko, who was appointed in April 2021 to replace Sylvia Muwebwa Nabatanzi Ntambi. Other commissioners include Ojok Joel Cox as Vice Chairperson together with Denis Tumusiime, Zaidi Ibrahim Edema and Sr. Mary Wasagali.

Under the Equal Opportunities Commission Act, the Chairperson serves a five-year full-time term and is eligible for one additional term. The current commissioners have now completed their five-year tenure, although it remains unclear whether their appointments have officially been renewed. Reports indicate that some commissioners, including the Chairperson, have been intensively lobbying reappointment.

The Commission was established under Article 32 of the Constitution to eliminate discrimination and inequalities based on sex, age, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, religion, disability, health status, political opinion, social or economic standing, while promoting affirmative action for marginalized groups.

However, while the institution is mandated to promote fairness and accountability, the Auditor General’s report suggests its own financial management fell short of expected standards.

The audit reveals that the Commission accumulated domestic arrears amounting to UGX 661,239,429.

Even more worrying, UGX 611,341,782 of those arrears relate to previous financial years.

According to the Auditor General, the outstanding obligations may eventually become bad debts if they remain unsettled, exposing government to avoidable financial losses.

The report further points to expenditure that was charged without the required approvals.

A total of UGX 170 million was charged on inappropriate expenditure items without the necessary authority, raising questions about adherence to financial management procedures and internal controls.

The Auditor General also identified off-budget financing amounting to UGX 457,858,889, contrary to the applicable financial regulations.

Off-budget financing bypasses the approved budgeting process and undermines Parliament’s oversight of public expenditure, making it difficult to ensure that public funds are spent strictly in accordance with approved priorities.

Procurement management also attracted criticism.

The audit found that procurements worth UGX 713,428,056 were undertaken despite not appearing in the Commission’s approved procurement plan.

Failure to procure in accordance with an approved procurement plan weakens transparency and accountability and increases the risk of irregular expenditure.

The report also highlights broader resource constraints affecting the institution.

The Commission’s five-year strategic plan required funding amounting to UGX 144.7 billion.

However, only UGX 81.117 billion, representing 56 percent of the planned resources, was actually provided during implementation.

The funding gap significantly reduced the Commission’s ability to fully execute its strategic objectives and deliver all planned programmes intended to eliminate discrimination and promote equal opportunities across Uganda.

The findings come at a sensitive time for the Commission as the tenure of its leadership reaches its statutory end, with uncertainty still surrounding possible reappointments.

While the Auditor General did not qualify the Commission’s financial statements, the report nevertheless paints a picture of an institution grappling with weak financial controls, mounting arrears, unauthorized expenditure, off-budget financing and procurement practices that fell outside approved plans.

For an institution established to champion accountability, fairness and equal treatment, the audit findings are likely to raise difficult questions about governance and stewardship of public resources.

The Auditor General’s report is expected to intensify pressure on the Commission’s leadership and accounting officers to explain how domestic arrears accumulated to more than UGX 661 million, why UGX 170 million was charged without the necessary authority, how nearly UGX 458 million was spent through off-budget financing contrary to regulations, why procurements worth more than UGX 713 million were undertaken outside the approved procurement plan, and how the institution intends to strengthen financial discipline while continuing to fulfil its constitutional mandate.

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A government project established to strengthen drought resilience among smallholder farmers and pastoralists has run into serious implementation challenges after the Auditor General exposed funding shortfalls, delayed activities and unspent public funds that slowed delivery of key interventions.

The findings are contained in the Auditor General’s report for the Strengthening Drought Resilience of Small Holder Farmers and Pastoralists in the IGAD Region (DRESS-EA) Project for the financial year covered in the December 2025 audit.

Although the project received an unqualified audit opinion, the Auditor General identified significant weaknesses in project financing and implementation that prevented the programme from achieving many of its planned targets.

The DRESS-EA Project was established to strengthen drought resilience in the IGAD region by supporting smallholder farmers and pastoralist communities that continue to face recurring climate shocks, prolonged droughts and declining agricultural productivity.

The programme falls under the Natural Resources, Environment, Climate Change, Water and Land Management sector and is intended to improve resilience through strategic investments aimed at protecting livelihoods and promoting sustainable management of natural resources.

However, the Auditor General’s report shows that implementation was severely constrained by inadequate financing.

According to the audit, the project received only UGX 2.88 billion, representing just 31 percent of the expected cumulative donor disbursements of UGX 9.24 billion, contrary to the financing agreement.

The huge funding gap significantly affected implementation and left project managers struggling to deliver planned interventions.

The Auditor General further examined implementation performance by reviewing 56 project activities valued at UGX 2.65 billion.

The review found that only 22 activities worth UGX 1.63 billion had fully achieved their targets.

The remaining 34 activities, valued at UGX 1.02 billion, had not achieved their intended targets by the time of the audit, pointing to delays in delivering critical interventions meant to strengthen communities against the effects of drought.

The audit also highlights serious budget performance challenges during the reporting period.

For the period running from 1st March 2024 to 28th February 2025, the project had an approved budget of UGX 3.48 billion.

However, only UGX 1.47 billion, representing 42 percent, became available for expenditure.

This left the project with a funding shortfall of UGX 2.01 billion, making it difficult to implement several planned activities.

Despite operating under constrained financing, the project did not fully utilise the funds that were available.

Out of the UGX 1.47 billion released for implementation, only UGX 1.35 billion, representing 92 percent, was spent.

The remaining UGX 120 million, equivalent to 8 percent, remained unspent.

According to the Auditor General, the unspent balance resulted from the non-submission of groundwater assessment reports, which delayed the execution of planned activities and prevented full utilisation of available resources.

The findings suggest that while the project was designed to help vulnerable farming and pastoral communities withstand the growing impacts of climate change and drought, implementation fell short because of inadequate donor financing, delayed activities and incomplete delivery of planned outputs.

Instead of fully delivering interventions intended to strengthen resilience in drought-prone communities, the project closed the audit period with only a fraction of the expected funding, more than half of its assessed activities still falling short of their targets and available funds left unused because essential technical reports had not been submitted.

The Auditor General’s findings are likely to place project management under increased scrutiny as questions emerge over whether stronger planning, faster implementation and better coordination could have reduced delays and ensured that the limited resources available reached vulnerable farmers and pastoralists more effectively.

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A multi-billion-shilling World Bank-funded project established to improve the lives of refugees and host communities has been rocked by a litany of financial, procurement and implementation failures after the Auditor General exposed serious weaknesses in the management of the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) under the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

The findings, contained in the Auditor General’s report for the seven-month period from 1st July 2024 to 31st January 2025, reveal that despite the project receiving an unqualified audit opinion, those responsible for implementing the programme left behind incomplete roads, unfinished bridges, partially completed schools, idle medical equipment, questionable payments, unpaid contractors and nearly UGX 1 billion that remained in project accounts after closure.

The DRDIP, headed by Director Dr. Robert Limlim, is one of Uganda’s biggest refugee-support interventions financed by the World Bank through a USD 150 million grant and a USD 50 million IDA loan.

Implemented by the Office of the Prime Minister, the project was designed to improve access to health services, education, water, sanitation, roads, markets, livelihoods and environmental protection for refugees and host communities across refugee-hosting districts including Arua, Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo, Adjumani, Obongi, Lamwo, Hoima, Kikuube, Kiryandongo, Isingiro, Kyegegwa and Kamwenge.

The programme was established against the backdrop of Uganda becoming Africa’s largest refugee-hosting country, sheltering more than 1.35 million refugees, most of them from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Somalia.

Yet instead of closing with a clean record after years of implementation, the Auditor General’s report exposes a project plagued by delayed works, weak financial management and questionable contract administration.

Ironically, the audit begins with good news that ultimately became overshadowed by administrative failures.

At project closure, DRDIP registered a net foreign exchange gain of USD 758,960 across both grant and credit components. The gain provided additional funds that were used to meet expenses such as rent, staff costs and motor vehicle maintenance.

However, the positive development was quickly eclipsed by concerns over how project finances were managed.

The Auditor General found that after the project officially closed, UGX 970.75 million that remained on the OPM District Support Account was never transferred back to the Consolidated Fund as required.

The report does not indicate any justification for why nearly one billion shillings remained outside the Consolidated Fund after project closure.

Contractors were also left counting losses.

The audit found that three project contracts had verified and approved variations amounting to UGX 836.75 million.

These variations had already been assessed and approved by the Project Engineer.

However, by the time the project closed, the contractors had not been paid a single shilling for the verified work, and no explanation was provided for the failure to settle the outstanding obligations.

Funding shortfalls also crippled implementation.

Although the revised budget for the seven-month period stood at UGX 12.63 billion, comprising UGX 5.85 billion in unspent balances and UGX 6.79 billion in savings realised from district activities, only UGX 10.03 billion was actually realised.

The resulting shortfall of UGX 2.61 billion meant the project achieved only 80 percent of its expected funding.

The consequences were immediate.

According to the Auditor General, several planned activities were either only partially implemented or never implemented at all.

These included the construction of markets, roads, classrooms, district headquarters and bridges that were intended to improve services for both refugees and host communities.

The audit further questioned expenditure in Isingiro District.

Project management transferred UGX 91.31 million to Isingiro District Local Government for payment of variations on the rehabilitation of the Kibwera-Kihihi Road.

However, the Auditor General found that the expenditure had never been budgeted for in the approved schedule of variations.

Even where money was available, not all of it was used.

Out of the UGX 10.03 billion available, only UGX 9.061 billion was spent, leaving UGX 971 million idle at project closure.

The audit says this resulted in an absorption rate of only 90 percent, and because the funds remained unused, some legitimate project expenses were never paid.

The Auditor General also uncovered worrying issues surrounding medical equipment procured under the project.

The programme purchased equipment for 39 health centres at a contract cost of UGX 9.076 billion.

Yet during inspection, auditors found that many facilities lacked adequate storage space for the equipment.

Some of the expensive equipment was also found to be underutilised, raising concerns that taxpayers and donors may not be getting value for money from the investment.

One of the most alarming findings concerns the construction of Ore Bridge in Yumbe District.

The project approved variation payments worth UGX 520 million.

However, auditors discovered that the contractor had been overpaid by UGX 370 million.

The report also found that works under the variation had been completed irregularly using the force account mechanism.

To make matters worse, the contractor’s performance contract had already expired even though key works remained unfinished.

These included gabion works, drainage works, grading of five kilometres on each side of the road and application of bituminous paint.

The audit then shifted attention to another bridge project connecting Belle and Kochi Boma Village in Itula Sub-county, Obongi District.

There, auditors found that the project failed to deduct UGX 379.92 million in retention money from payment certificates.

Retention funds are intended to safeguard government against defective works, yet they were not withheld as required.

Even after payments had been made, several critical components of the bridge remained incomplete.

These included approach slabs on both sides, approach fill works, gabion protection, deck slab works and drainage infrastructure.

Road projects also came under heavy criticism.

The construction of community access roads stretching from Labworoyeng, Pawena, Laliya, Pawic, Lagot Anyara to Beyogoya-Prelnor Junction, valued at UGX 1.50 billion, revealed numerous shortcomings.

According to the Auditor General, additional works were awarded without approval from both the District Implementation Support Team (DIST) and the Project Implementation Support Team (PIST).

The roads themselves remained incomplete, with missing gravel, poor grading, absence of culverts at critical crossing points and eventual abandonment of the construction site by the contractor.

Education infrastructure projects fared no better.

Inspection of building works at Palabek Secondary School in Lamwo District and Paluda Secondary School in Moyo District exposed another series of irregularities.

Additional works and costs were awarded before receiving approval from DIST and PIST.

Following changes in the scope of works, no revised contract was prepared or signed.

At Palabek Secondary School, auditors identified an overpayment of UGX 133.41 million.

Meanwhile, at Paluda Secondary School, final payments had already been processed despite the expected construction works remaining incomplete.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the Auditor General also questioned the long-term sustainability of the programme.

The report concludes that DRDIP failed to fully operationalise its own Project Sustainability Action Plan, casting uncertainty over whether the investments made over several years will continue benefiting refugee-hosting communities after donor support ends.

The findings present an uncomfortable picture for one of Uganda’s flagship refugee-development programmes.

Instead of leaving behind fully completed roads, bridges, schools, health facilities and community infrastructure, the closure audit paints a story of incomplete projects, overpayments, idle equipment, unpaid contractors, unbudgeted expenditures, unspent funds and weak contract management.

For a project established to improve livelihoods in communities carrying the enormous burden of hosting more than a million refugees, the Auditor General’s report raises difficult questions about accountability within the Office of the Prime Minister and project management.

The audit is likely to intensify pressure on officials responsible for DRDIP’s implementation to explain how billions of shillings were managed, why approved works remained unfinished, why contractors were overpaid in some cases but left unpaid in others, why expensive medical equipment lacks proper storage and utilisation, and why a programme intended to transform some of Uganda’s most vulnerable communities closed with so many unresolved issues still hanging over it.

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The government’s once-celebrated war against tsetse flies and sleeping sickness may have succeeded in wiping out Human African Trypanosomiasis in Uganda by 2020, but the closure of the agency that spearheaded the fight has left behind a catalogue of administrative, financial and asset management failures that have now been laid bare by the Auditor General.

The latest Auditor General’s report on the Coordinating Office for Control of Trypanosomiasis in Uganda (COCTU) for the financial year ended 30th September 2024 exposes glaring weaknesses in the management of public resources during the transition of the institution into the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).

Although the audit opinion remained unqualified, the report paints a troubling picture of poor accountability, incomplete asset transfers, outstanding receivables, undocumented government property and a transition process that appears to have been handled without sufficient attention to detail.

COCTU was established under the Uganda Trypanosomiasis Control Council Act of 1992 to coordinate Uganda’s national campaign against tsetse flies and trypanosomiasis using the internationally recognised One Health approach that brought together human, animal and environmental health sectors.

The institution worked closely with the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Finance, Tourism, Local Government and Environment, while partnering with international organisations including the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), African Union, IFAD and other global agencies.

Following Uganda’s remarkable achievement of reducing Human African Trypanosomiasis cases to zero by 2020, Parliament passed the Uganda Trypanosomiasis (Repeal) Bill, 2024, dissolving COCTU and mainstreaming its functions into MAAIF under the Directorate of Animal Resources, Department of Entomology.

However, as officials celebrated the institutional transition, the Auditor General discovered numerous unresolved issues that now cast doubt on how the closure process was managed.

One of the first issues highlighted involves money that is still outstanding.

The Auditor General found that COCTU was owed USD 4,837, equivalent to about UGX 17.84 million, by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) for medicines that had never been delivered.

The outstanding receivable remained unresolved at the time of closure, raising questions about whether sufficient efforts had been made to recover public funds and ensure accountability before winding up the institution.

The biggest concern, however, revolves around government assets.

According to the audit, COCTU’s handover report dated 1st October 2024 listed a total of 238 government assets.

Shockingly, only 109 assets, representing just 46 percent of the total and valued at UGX 564.71 million, had been included in the handover process but had still not been integrated into MAAIF’s official assets register.

This means that nearly half of the assets formally handed over had not yet been captured in the ministry’s records, exposing them to risks associated with weak accountability and poor asset control.

The Auditor General’s physical inspection painted an even more disturbing picture.

Inspectors found that 15 government assets valued at UGX 4.90 million had never been engraved, making identification and tracking difficult.

Another 15 assets were already old and faulty, raising concerns about whether sufficient maintenance and replacement plans had been implemented before the institution was dissolved.

The most astonishing revelation came when auditors examined the remaining assets.

A staggering 129 assets listed in the handover report had no monetary values attached whatsoever.

Even more worrying, these assets could not be traced in MAAIF’s assets register, creating uncertainty over their official ownership, valuation and accountability.

Such omissions, the report suggests, leave public property vulnerable to mismanagement, loss or misuse during institutional transitions.

The Auditor General also highlighted uncertainty surrounding one of COCTU’s key physical properties.

The institution owns a resource centre building situated on a four-acre parcel of land in Njeru.

However, the land belongs to the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRIC & DB).

Although both the resource centre and land appear in NAGRIC & DB’s register, the Auditor General noted that they were disclosed with encumbrances, signalling unresolved issues relating to ownership or legal interests that still require attention.

The audit further examined the handling of staff during the rationalisation process.

By the time COCTU officially closed on 30th September 2024, the institution had 16 employees.

Only three staff members were absorbed into MAAIF and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The contracts of the remaining 13 employees were simply allowed to expire without renewal or extension.

Among the three employees whose contracts extended beyond the closure date, two received all their accrued terminal benefits while the third employee was not paid because he had already transitioned to another public institution, the NGO Bureau.

The Auditor General independently recalculated the terminal benefits paid to the two officers and confirmed that the payments were accurate and consistent with their employment contracts.

While the staff payments themselves did not reveal irregularities, the report nevertheless illustrates the broader impact of institutional rationalisation on employees whose careers abruptly came to an end following the repeal of the governing law.

The audit concludes by noting that COCTU’s former responsibilities have now been fully mainstreamed under the Directorate of Animal Resources, Department of Entomology in MAAIF, effectively bringing to an end more than three decades of an institution that once coordinated Uganda’s battle against one of Africa’s deadliest neglected tropical diseases.

Yet despite the successful elimination of Human African Trypanosomiasis, the Auditor General’s report suggests that the administrative closure of the institution did not receive the same level of discipline that characterised Uganda’s public health success against the disease itself.

Instead, the transition has been overshadowed by unresolved receivables, incomplete asset transfers, assets without values, unregistered government property, equipment lacking proper identification and lingering questions over the management of public resources during one of government’s major rationalisation exercises.

The findings are likely to pile pressure on officials who managed COCTU’s final days and those responsible for receiving its functions within MAAIF to explain how an institution that coordinated national disease control for decades could be dissolved while leaving behind assets that cannot easily be traced, government property whose values remain unknown, outstanding receivables yet to be recovered and administrative gaps that the Auditor General says still require urgent attention before the chapter on COCTU can truly be closed.

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