Sironko district returns Shs 600m unspent funds to treasury 

Sironko district has returned over Shs 600 million in unspent funds to the national treasury.

The money, intended to pay teachers and non-teaching staff at Professor Nabudere Memorial Vocational School in Buyobo town council for the 2023/24 financial year, went unused due to staff shortages.

The institute, established two years ago to honour the late Prof Dan Nabudere and promote youth skill development in the Bugisu region, currently has fewer than five teachers on the government payroll, while an additional ten staff members are not government-employed.

Alfred Wesonga, Sironko district education officer, explained that the funds could not be utilized due to the limited number of government-employed staff. Hebert Musika, the district secretary for production and a councillor for Nalusala sub-county, called for expedited teacher recruitment.

Nelson Kirinda, the district’s chief administrative officer, announced plans to write to the ministry of Education, requesting additional recruitment for both teaching and non-teaching staff.

A management member at Professor Nabudere Memorial Institute, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the institution requires over 20 teachers and support staff. Despite multiple requests to the ministry of Education from the principal for staff recruitment, no response has been received.

The staff shortage has contributed to a decline in student enrollment, as the institute lacks adequate personnel to teach a range of courses.