Officials of the Local Government Finance Commission (LGFC) have been handed over to Parliamentary police after failing to explain the whereabouts of government assets valued at Shs141.8 million.
The officials appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to respond to queries raised by the Auditor General in the audit for the period ended December 2025.
The assets in question include 41 desktop computers valued at Shs91 million, seven laptops worth Shs13 million, 10 printers valued at Shs14.41 million, three projectors worth Shs11.53 million, three monitors valued at Shs1.2 million and a video recorder worth Shs300,000.
According to COSASE Chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi, the Auditor General was unable to establish the whereabouts of the items, while the Commission failed to provide supporting documentation to account for them.
The officials reportedly suggested that some of the equipment could be in the basement of Workers House, where the Commission operates.
However, the committee said the explanation was not supported by records showing that the assets were actually there.
COSASE has consequently tasked Parliamentary police to accompany Commission officials and inspect the stores and other areas in an effort to establish whether the missing assets can be traced.
The committee also questioned the whereabouts of five motor vehicle logbooks and supporting documents for several vehicles listed in the Commission’s asset records.
The vehicles include Toyota Corolla models and Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TXL vehicles.
Nkunyingi said the lack of logbooks, insurance records and other ownership documents made it difficult for the committee to establish whether the vehicles belonged to the Commission, had been disposed of, or were registered in the names of individuals.
The Commission told the committee that it had reported the matter to police, but the committee noted that no clear resolution had been provided despite the reports having been made years ago.
The committee also questioned the Commission over the issuance of new number plates for some of the vehicles without corresponding documentation from the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Budadiri East MP Julius Nakiyi questioned why the Commission had not clearly declared the assets missing after they were flagged by the Auditor General, instead maintaining that some of them could be in the basement.
Beyond the asset queries, COSASE raised concerns about the Commission’s asset management systems and human-resource capacity.
The committee said the absence of a proper asset management policy and inconsistencies in the asset register had made it difficult to effectively track public property.
Nkunyingi also said the Commission’s staffing gaps appeared to be affecting its ability to effectively support local governments in areas such as finance and budgeting.
He further noted that the Commission’s visibility remains limited, with some local governments reportedly unaware of its constitutional mandate to advise and support them on financial matters.
COSASE directed the Commission, led by Secretary Adam Babale, to return before the committee on Monday together with its board members and provide documentary evidence addressing the audit queries.
The committee said the further scrutiny will seek to establish what happened to the missing assets and whether they can be recovered.
