government 6 October 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Finance Ministry Under Fire for Shs 20.25 Billion Vehicle Expenditure
Uganda's Ministry of Finance is being questioned by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee over a Shs 20.25 billion expenditure on fuel, oil, and vehicle-related costs for its fleet of 186 vehicles. The committee has demanded detailed justifications for the spending, which averages nearly Shs 300,000 per vehicle daily. Source: https://observer.ug/news/finance-spends-shs-300000-per-day-per-vehicle-on-186-fleet
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC-Central) has demanded a comprehensive breakdown of Shs 20.25 billion spent by the Ministry of Finance on motor vehicle operations during the 2024/25 financial year. The committee’s scrutiny followed the Auditor General’s report, which highlighted substantial costs attributed to fuel, oil, and general vehicle maintenance.
According to the figures presented, the ministry operates a fleet of 186 vehicles and 12 motorcycles. The reported expenditure on these assets amounts to an average of approximately Shs 298,300 per vehicle per day, or about Shs 108.9 million annually per vehicle. This high per-day cost has raised significant concerns among committee members regarding value for money.
Members of Parliament, led by committee chairperson Patrick Oshabe Nsamba, have requested supporting documentation to clarify how these funds were utilized. They are particularly interested in understanding the justification for such extensive spending, given the ministry’s core responsibilities in economic policy and financial management.
Ministry officials, including Under Secretary Edward Sengonzi Damulira and Head of Accounts Hilda Nyamaizi, acknowledged the committee’s concerns. They indicated that the expenditure covered a broad spectrum of services, including property management and general operational costs, not solely vehicle-specific expenses. However, a discrepancy was noted between two reported figures for motor vehicle maintenance, prompting further demands for clarification.
The committee has directed the ministry to provide detailed schedules for various expenditure categories, including professional services, travel, and transport, to ascertain the true cost of maintaining the government’s vehicle fleet and ensure accountability. The officials are expected to explain the variance in reported maintenance costs and justify the overall spending.
Source: https://observer.ug/news/finance-spends-shs-300-000-per-day-per-vehicle-on-186-fleet