Internal control systems and financial accountability in Uganda: A case of selected districts in western Uganda
The study sought to examine the role of Internal Control system in supporting financial accountability in Uganda. The study found out that the relationship between internal control systems and financial accountability in local governments appeared to be weak, and the actual contribution of internal...
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International Journal of Commerce and Management Research
2018
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/108 |
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author | Eton, Marus Caroline Murezi Fabian, Mwosi Benard, Patrick Ogwel |
author_facet | Eton, Marus Caroline Murezi Fabian, Mwosi Benard, Patrick Ogwel |
author_sort | Eton, Marus |
collection | KAB-DR |
description | The study sought to examine the role of Internal Control system in supporting financial accountability in Uganda. The study found out that the relationship between internal control systems and financial accountability in local governments appeared to be weak, and the actual contribution of internal control systems in the financial operations of the district is negligible. The study however, revealed that internal control system is inadequate in accounting for the staffing gaps in local governments and the untimely release of financial reports. Staff in the local governments investigated, particularly those handling finance related matters had low training in financial accountability. Underpinning this truth is the fact that government grants are not allocated in accordance with grants procedures and later funds diversion. It was revealed for example, that withholding tax deductions are unaccounted for. These deductions are made by the finance department, yet the records indicating their remittance to Uganda Revenue Authority are lacking. The study therefore recommends that Political leaders and other interest groups should stay away from dictating on how public funds should be used. Instead of rigidly interfering with the actual implementation of local government programs, they should execute their constitutionally defined role of supervising and monitoring government programs for the benefit of the masses. There should be urgent recruitment of staff in local governments to bridge the staffing gap and staff should be trained on the current finance management systems to speed up financial reporting system and timely release of financial reports. The Local government staff who did not remit the withholding tax and misused it, should be made to refund the misused funds or be disciplined immediately. |
format | Article |
id | oai:idr.kab.ac.ug:20.500.12493-108 |
institution | KAB-DR |
publishDate | 2018 |
publisher | International Journal of Commerce and Management Research |
record_format | dspace |
spelling | oai:idr.kab.ac.ug:20.500.12493-1082024-01-17T04:45:53Z Internal control systems and financial accountability in Uganda: A case of selected districts in western Uganda Eton, Marus Caroline Murezi Fabian, Mwosi Benard, Patrick Ogwel internal control, financial accountability The study sought to examine the role of Internal Control system in supporting financial accountability in Uganda. The study found out that the relationship between internal control systems and financial accountability in local governments appeared to be weak, and the actual contribution of internal control systems in the financial operations of the district is negligible. The study however, revealed that internal control system is inadequate in accounting for the staffing gaps in local governments and the untimely release of financial reports. Staff in the local governments investigated, particularly those handling finance related matters had low training in financial accountability. Underpinning this truth is the fact that government grants are not allocated in accordance with grants procedures and later funds diversion. It was revealed for example, that withholding tax deductions are unaccounted for. These deductions are made by the finance department, yet the records indicating their remittance to Uganda Revenue Authority are lacking. The study therefore recommends that Political leaders and other interest groups should stay away from dictating on how public funds should be used. Instead of rigidly interfering with the actual implementation of local government programs, they should execute their constitutionally defined role of supervising and monitoring government programs for the benefit of the masses. There should be urgent recruitment of staff in local governments to bridge the staffing gap and staff should be trained on the current finance management systems to speed up financial reporting system and timely release of financial reports. The Local government staff who did not remit the withholding tax and misused it, should be made to refund the misused funds or be disciplined immediately. Kabale University 2018-09-06T14:02:35Z 2018-09-06T14:02:35Z 2018 Article . Abdirisaq IM, Ali YSA. Assessing the Financial Accountability of the Somali federal government organizations. Public Policy and Administrative Research. 2014; 4:2. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/108 application/pdf International Journal of Commerce and Management Research |
spellingShingle | internal control, financial accountability Eton, Marus Caroline Murezi Fabian, Mwosi Benard, Patrick Ogwel Internal control systems and financial accountability in Uganda: A case of selected districts in western Uganda |
title | Internal control systems and financial accountability in Uganda: A case of selected districts in western Uganda |
title_full | Internal control systems and financial accountability in Uganda: A case of selected districts in western Uganda |
title_fullStr | Internal control systems and financial accountability in Uganda: A case of selected districts in western Uganda |
title_full_unstemmed | Internal control systems and financial accountability in Uganda: A case of selected districts in western Uganda |
title_short | Internal control systems and financial accountability in Uganda: A case of selected districts in western Uganda |
title_sort | internal control systems and financial accountability in uganda a case of selected districts in western uganda |
topic | internal control, financial accountability |
url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/108 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT etonmarus internalcontrolsystemsandfinancialaccountabilityinugandaacaseofselecteddistrictsinwesternuganda AT carolinemurezi internalcontrolsystemsandfinancialaccountabilityinugandaacaseofselecteddistrictsinwesternuganda AT fabianmwosi internalcontrolsystemsandfinancialaccountabilityinugandaacaseofselecteddistrictsinwesternuganda AT benardpatrickogwel internalcontrolsystemsandfinancialaccountabilityinugandaacaseofselecteddistrictsinwesternuganda |