KAMPALA- The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) was grilled on Thursday by MPs on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over the slow implementation of the computerized system for management of case prosecution.
Dubbed the Prosecution Case Management Information System (PROCAMIS), the details of the deal are contained in the audit report that highlighted that the DPP procured aimed at improving case output through computer-based systems to assist recording of cases details and professional resources and trigger reminder when action fall due.
According to the Auditor General, the procurement process and the contract was awarded to an American based IT specialist for the supply of prosecution case Management Information Systems on November 28, 2014, at a cost of USD2,247,800 approximately Shs8,460,822,260 at current exchange rate.
In 2014/2015, Shs3,959,697,902 representing 50% had been paid to the suppliers and the DPP further spent Shs3,473,477,412 in 2015/2016 on this project.
It was however noted that although one of the main objectives was to roll out PROCAMIS to all DPP offices, the Auditors discovered that only four offices namely, Buganda Road, Mukono, Entebbe, Kololo were covered and operational out of the 119 stations giving a coverage of only 4.4% two years from time of idea conception.
Auditor General, John Muwanga noted that the expenditure already incurred has been not to be commensurate with the implementation pace.
He further highlighted that installation had been done in the offices of Mubende, Mpigi, Makindye, Mwanga II, Jinja and Iganga, however, the system was not yet operational due to lack of internet connectivity and warned that further delays in the implementation and roll out of PROCAMIS may affect the timely achievement of the project objectives.
Amos Ngolobe, Deputy DPP told PAC that the Directorate could only manage to connect and roll out system to four filed offices and could not roll out to seven field offices due to external factors especially NITA-U failure to provide internet and lease-line service coverage of the field offices.
The Directorate was also faulted for committing a mischarge of expenditure after an audit review of the Directorate payments revealed that Shs102,654,370 was spent without requisite authority.
The auditors argued that the practice of mischarging expenditure undermines the importance of the budgeting process and leads to financial statement misreporting.
When asked about the matter, Ngolobe apologized for the mischarge saying it came as a result of accrued allowances for staff and had to use the funds to cover the debt.
Well received, thanks.Thanks for sharing.Thanks for the update.
