Rwf 4.3b unaccounted for in 2008-AG report

KIGALI - The 2008 Auditor General’s report issued yesterday shows how billions of taxpayers’ money was lost in 2008 through shoddy deals, embezzlement and mismanagement of public funds. The report presented to Parliament yesterday says that up to Rwf4.3 billion was not accounted for from different government institutions. According to the report, of the 110 entities that were audited, 29 had expenditures that could not be justified. It also uncovered more cases of fraud compared to previous years. “Most of the fraud cases are mainly related to forgery and falsification of documents and payments of goods and services which were not actually delivered to the entities,” reads the report. It pins the Ministry of Agriculture for outstanding deposits of Rwf 21.9 million made in 2007 which still appeared as reconciling items in 2008. “The Ministry did not provide bank deposit slips and invoices for these transactions to confirm their validity” reads the report. The audit noted a case where the government gave Rwf 3.1billion to the National Road Fund but this money was not recognized as a payment from the Ministry of Finance. “This means that the debtors shown in the consolidated financial statements are overstated by this amount,” the report says. The report says that Rwf 1.9 billion was spent by different government institutions on over payment of contractors. A case in point is when the Ministry of Infrastructure paid Enterprise Mugarura Alexis Rwf 949.4 million in excess for construction of headquarters for the Eastern Province in Rwamagana. The contract for the construction was initially Rwf 1.7billion but the contractor only carried out work worth Rwf 737.2 million. The same ministry lost Rwf 965.5 million to BCE contractors as an over payment for the periodical maintenance of Mudasomwa-Gisozu road and the maintenance works on the Butare-Kibeho-Muse. Several institutions illegally released unduly expenses that were not accounted for. Forest Conservation Project (PAFOR) released Rwf 78 million on scholarships without documentation of approval while RITA paid Rwf 25 million as allowances to a non- IT staff who works in the Administration and Finance departments. Rwanda Institute of Administration and Management (RIAM) illegally paid transport allowances of over Rwf 17.9 million without the approval of the Board of Directors while the Institute of Science and Technological Research (IRST) spent Rwf 6.9 million on bonuses without prior approval of Cabinet. The Media High Council has been exposed in the report for paying Rwf 2.8m above the limit in telephone allowances while the Senate spent Rwf 7.6m as an overpayment of salary for deceased Senator Elie Mpayimana. The report indicates that Mpayimana’s family received the money in excess to the funeral expenses. Shockingly, Rusizi district lost Rwf 4.9m to internet fraudsters Cisse Ali Bari and Kome Mamadou of Ivory Coast while Trac Plus spent Rwf 3.1m on over payment of salaries and Rwf 19.2m on payment of unapproved top up on salaries. Under the section of wasteful expenditures, the report indicates that public entities incurred Rwf 201m expenses which were not necessary. It also adds that there are cases whereby bonuses and other expenditures amounting to Rwf 154m were paid in different institutions while unauthorised staff advances and loans to the tune of Rwf404m were issued out. Ends