By Nanteza Ruth Walusimbi
JINJA
Jinja City Council has broken its silence over reports of returning Shs. 4.2 billion to the national Treasury as reported in the Daily Monitor on July 7, 2025.
In a press statement dated July 8, 2025, the City Town Clerk, Ndahura Isabella, clarified that the figures reported were misrepresented and that some critical context was missing.
“The audit for 2024/2025 hasn’t even started since the financial year has just ended, “read the statement.
Jinja city council revealed that Shs. 4.2 billion was returned to the Consolidated Account during the Financial Year 2023/2024, but not due to mismanagement but a direct result of a countrywide recruitment freeze and payroll audit spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Service and the Office of the Auditor General.
The exercise, which affected multiple government entities, meant that recruitment and certain planned expenditures could not proceed, hence the unutilized funds.
The statement also addressed allegations that Jinja City received a supplementary budget of Shs.11.7 billion but only used Shs.7.4 billion. City authorities explained that this figure was actually anticipated local revenue projected for the 2023/2024 Financial Year. The city however managed to collect Shs.8.2 billion, which was used to finance key development projects including the procurement of a motor grader, a roller, and other essential services.
The City Clerk assured the public of Jinja’s unwavering commitment to service delivery and accountability.
