Last week, the Office of the Ombudsman has presented its report on the financial mismanagement of the public accounts, stating the former KIST (Kigali Institute of Science and Technology) to have misused over 245,048,650 million Rwandan Francs. The current College of Science and Technology authorities affirm that they are not informed in the situation thus not responsible.
The report investigates on the mismanagement of the different projects related to the former KIST new school center called “Center for Innovations and technology transfer”, projects that targeted the spread of technologies in different sectors across the nation.
The projects said to be mismanaged include:
-A project sponsored by Canada, Holland and Sweden meant to increase sustainable technologies through the protection of environment in Burera and Musanze districts.
For this project, KIST has been given $183.945, 26 equivalent to 122, 139,480 Million Rwf.
Only $ 67, 297,26 is known to how it has been managed.
Other huge amount of money equivalent to 4, 7 Million Rwf was given to KIST workers who usually have their salaries.
Another project said to have been mismanaged is the Satellites Center installation scheduled to be built in Musanze and in Nyagatare districts.
For the completion of this project, KIST received 49 M Rwf to build a house for operations for the projects but according to the report the entire amount is completely and currently lost.
The Biogas projects to be installed in many secondary schools across the country did not receive the whole amount of money it deserved. No explanations on its losses were provided.
The total amount of money lost equals to 245,048,650 Rwf and both Musanze and KIST authorities do not provided convincing explanations on its disappearance.
The 2012-2013 report of the Ombudsman states that the assessment of financial mismanagement of these projects started from 2005, 2006, 2007 and both KIST and Musanze officials have to explain more about the misuse of public accounts.
The office of the Ombudsman states that all people involved into this should face juridical charges.
Madame Aloysia Cyanzayire the Chief Ombudsman told UM– USEKE that all necessary procedures are soon to be presented to the general persecution office in order to bring the former KIST officials to court.
The KIST Rector, Prof Manasse Mbonye affirms that he is not informed on the situation, and says that KIST was structurally and academically different from the current College of science and technology.
The Spokesperson of the National Persecution authority, Alain Mukurarinda told UM– USEKE that the Office has not yet received the Ombudsman’s claims to charge the KIST authorities.
“Maybe they are still assessing the issue before presenting it to us” said Alain Mukurarinda.
Another issue that is potentially to create confusion is the fact that the former Center for Innovations and technologies transfer is dedicated to the current Workforce Development Authority(WDA). It is not part of current College of Sciences and Technologies, the former KIST.
UM– USEKE.RW
