The general auditor’s reports have been exposing projects that have been mishandled by implementers causing losses to the government, most of which are attributed to poor feasibility studies, monitoring and evaluation.
The 2014/2015 report of the general auditor pointed out some projects which became useless after getting completed. On the other hand other projects would be diverted to be used for other activities different from the initial expectations.
Those badly prepared projects include the project of digging ponds in Mahama sector of Kirehe district which became useless after being completed at a cost of Rwf2,200,000,000. It was expected that these ponds would accumulate waters but never materialized and irrigation projects that were supposed to spring as result never took off.
Talking about the loss brought by the ponds’ project, Hon. Juvenal NKUSI, Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee said the technical implementation of the project was mired in mismanagement.
“Can you imagine how disappointing it is to build a wall in a place where flowing water will not reach,” he lamented.
He added that it is imprudent to start such projects without undertaking thorough scrutiny and assessment.
Nkusi stressed the need to look for experienced Rwandans in project designing since what is done by people considered as intellectuals are found to be poorly studied.
MPs pointed that the matter of poorly studied project must be addressed as it translates into huge government losses.
Hon Begumisa Safari Theoneste said that the matter should be squarely addressed including heavy penalties to the culprits.
“I have been thinking the amount of money exceeding 2 billion lost for construction of dams in Mahama. It is beyond the amount of money that can build a health center. What is the punishment granted to the act of a badly designed project? We are going to reform the Rwanda penal code to include a clause punishing anyone who poorly designs a project,” he said.
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