AG report: Civil society calls for tough measures

The Civil Society Platform has called for tough measures against persons found to have mismanaged public funds as per the latest released Auditor-General’s report. The umbrella body for civil society organisations operating in the country said the move to hold accountable individuals who engage in fraud will improve public funds management. Edward Munyamaliza, the president of the Civil Society Platform, told The New Times that prosecution for mismanagement and fraud would increase responsibility and overall management of funds. “No exemptions should be made while at it. Not even excuses of insufficient experience in management should be taken while investigating and trying those found to have mismanaged tax payer’s money,” Munyamaliza said. He added that the civil society was looking forward to working closely with the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee to ‘amplify’ their voice and in tracking public expenditures. The latest annual report for the year that ended June last year, which was tabled before Parliament earlier this month, shows that of the 157 public entities audited, 57 got ‘adverse’ audit opinion. An adverse audit opinion is a red flag that is given by an auditor when financial statements are found significantly different from generally accepted accounting principles. Seventy-eight public entities got a clean audit opinion, while 22 got an ‘except for’ audit opinion. The new report outlines about 20 financial flaws that require particular attention if government is to improve on its public financial management. Speaking to The New Times, Obadiah Biraro, the auditor-general, said the notorious cases in public financial management could be traced back to poor management exacerbated by poor follow up of recommendations issued by his office. He said holders of public entities managing public funds ought to be responsible and qualified to hold their positions. On the issue of prosecution, Biraro recommended that it might not necessarily be the best way forward, and vouched for the application of relevant administrative procedures. “People must be qualified to be where they are and they must live to expectations given the key performance indicators, where everybody knows what is expected and seeks help where need be,” Biraro said. In a recent interview with The New Times, MP Theoneste Karenzi, the deputy chairperson of parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, said individuals responsible for earlier mistakes in previous reports have been sanctioned accordingly. He said sanctions ranged from salary cuts and temporary suspension, to explanation in writings but when it is criminal, the case is submitted to the Prosecutor-General for follow-up. Efforts to talk to Prosecutor-General Richard Muhumuza were futile by press time. The grilling for accounting officers in the institutions implicated is expected to begin early June, when the officers appear before the Public Accounts Committee. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

News

AG report: Civil society calls for tough measures