The leadership of Soroti University has been faulted by the members of the parliamentary public Accounts Committee for causing a financial loss worth 500 million shillings in a botched construction of a water tank.
Scrutinizing the auditor general’s report for financial year 2022/2023, MPs sitting on the committee expressed disappointment over poor contract management by the university leadership that paid 459 million for the construction of a water tank that collapsed on testing and completion.
Chairing the committee, Gorreth Namugga Mawogola South MP asked the University Bursar to explain why the university administration had to exceed the advance payment of 30 % before the contractor delivered as expected.
In response, Robert Magnemeso, the Soroti University Bursar told the committee, the university administration was conned, and they made the payment of the balance of 135 million shillings on agreement that the contractor would reconstruct the water tank.
He says after the payment the contractor identified as KarfAqua Engineering Solutions Limited company never returned to re-construct the water tank.
The committee demanded the university administration to avail all the necessary details relating with the contractor who will be invited to the committee to account for the money but also for the committee to rule out connivance between the contractor and the university.
