The Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has ordered a forensic audit into the supply of seed made by nine companies contracted by the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) over lack of supporting documents to their payment.
Parliament has ordered a forensic audit into the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and ten seeds companies.
The probe, ordered by the parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), follows failure by representatives of both NAADs and seeds companies to produce evidence of the particular farmers that received the agricultural inputs.
The audit will be expected to find out how UGX3.9 billion meant for seeds distribution was used since the parties involved failed to convince COSASE
Committee chairman Abdu Katuntu issued the directive following an interface with officials from the nine companies that supplied the seeds and those from NAADS. the meeting sought to answer audit queries raised in the 2013/2014 Auditor General report.
The Auditor General’s report noted that the supply and distribution of seed supplies wasn’t supported with lists of beneficiaries or acknowledgment of beneficiaries.
During the interface, the committee noted glaring irregularities in the delivery of seeds. Some of the seeds were delivered to unknown recipients while other companies delivered supplies to beneficiaries who declined to acknowledge receipt.
The suppliers have also been faulted for supplying inadequate quantities of agricultural inputs to the beneficiaries.
“If we aren’t satisfied, this money is recoverable, all of you should know this and we shall not hesitate to do the recovery of this money. If you didn’t supply, you are really not going to be happy with us, but if you did, then you will know that there is a person out there trying to do your job to protect every single penny, a Ugandan pays,