Public school bursars and accountants may soon be required to declare their wealth and that of their families if a new proposal before parliament is adopted.
The Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Sirisia MP John Waluke, seeks to introduce lifestyle audits for financial officers in schools and institutions of basic education. The proposed audits would extend to spouses and dependent children, a move Waluke says is aimed at curbing concealment of illicit assets.
Addressing the education committee, Waluke urged lawmakers to endorse the Bill for publication, citing long-standing misuse of school funds by bursars and accountants.
“These officers, appointed by boards of governance, have manipulated finances for personal gain in violation of the Public Officers Ethics Act,” he said.
The MP argued that lifestyle audits would promote transparency and ensure compliance with the Public Audit Act, ultimately safeguarding the constitutional right to education through prudent use of public funds.
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Waluke maintained that since parliament appropriates salaries for school staff, bursars and accountants should be treated as public officers and subjected to the same scrutiny as other state employees. He cited Section 46 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, which defines abuse of office as a criminal offence.
He also proposed mandatory transfers every three years to reduce opportunities for entrenched corruption. “Why should a bursar serve in one school forever? That breeds misuse of resources. Some have acquired unexplained properties all over,” he said.
The MP emphasized that including spouses in audits would close loopholes used to launder stolen funds through relatives.
The education committee will now review the proposal before deciding whether to recommend its publication and introduction for First Reading in the National Assembly.
By Masaki Enock
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