The Office of the Auditor General has commenced a comprehensive verification exercise of all government pensioners in Uganda, which aims at ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the government’s pension payroll.
According to the Auditor General’s office, the findings from this exercise will be included in the December 2024 report to Parliament. The office added that this follows a similar exercise conducted in February 2023, which uncovered significant discrepancies in the government’s payroll.
“The 2023 report revealed that a staggering Shs 53 Bn had been paid out to 10,192 ‘ghost workers’ who had been on the government’s payroll for four years. And these individuals were found to be deceased, retired, or had absconded from their duties,” noted the auditor general.
The office of the AG noted that the verification of government pensioners is a critical step in ensuring the efficient and transparent management of public resources.
“We are committed to rooting out any irregularities or fraudulent activities within the pension system, and this exercise is a crucial part of that effort,” said the Auditor General.
The Auditor General’s office has assured the public that the findings from this exercise will be made public and presented to Parliament as part of the annual report. It will involve a thorough review of the documentation and records of all government pensioners in Uganda.
The exercise will run from July 8th to July 20th, 2024.
