The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has referred three senior officials from Gulu University to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) over alleged financial mismanagement tied to a stalled construction project worth 30 billion Ugandan shillings.

The implicated officials include University Secretary David Obol Atori, Procurement Officer Walter Oyuku, and Senior Planning Officer Emmanuel Wesonga.

The trio faces accusations of contract management irregularities and causing financial loss to the government.

According to the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending 2024/25, the university incurred a loss of 530 million shillings, paid as interest on a non-performing contract.

In 2019, Gulu University contracted Chinese firm CICO to construct a Business Administration Development Centre for 30 billion shillings.

However, the project stalled after reaching only 35% completion due to a lack of funds from the Ministry of Finance.

The committee, led by Vice Chairperson Goreth Namuga, revealed that over the six-year delay, the university continued to pay interest totaling 530 million shillings instead of reviewing the contract terms with guidance from the Solicitor General as required.

By Francis Lubega

4th July 2025

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