The special audit by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) reveals that over 11 billion shillings was overpaid to 1,502 pensioners in 19 Ministries, Departments and Agencies, while 2,173 pensioners in 23 Government entities were overpaid 8.9 billion shillings.

Additionally, 14.6 billion shillings meant for pension benefits was diverted to other activities in 19 ministries while 66.1 Billion shillings was charged on wrong accounts in 29 Ministries and Departments and 12 Local Governments.

James Bantu, while sensitizing the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee on the special audits recently conducted, emphasized that funds can be recovered to support the growing pension payroll.

The audit on the management of the pension payroll used headcount verification, confirming that out of 72,206 pensioners on the public payroll, 61,199 (84.8%) existed and met the payment criteria, 756 were not verified, and 10,256 (10%) did not show up.

It also revealed that over 4,500 retirees had not accessed the pension payroll by 2024.

By Francis Lubega

31 January 2025

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