While sending relief money to Ugandan students stranded in Wuhan, China, the epicentre of coronavirus outbreak, the Ministry of Finance mistakenly sent shs 2billion excess money through the embassy.

The Ministry has thus written to the Ugandan Embassy in China return the excess money sent through a letter dated March 10, “As you are aware, on the 28th of February 2020, this ministry transferred $600,000 (Shs2.2 billion) to the Uganda Mission in Beijing to support the affected students. However, upon receipt of the cabinet extract, we noted that there is a discrepancy between the amounts therein and that stated in the letter from the Ministry of Education and Sports,” the letter reads in part

“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to direct you to return the excess USD 538,200 back to the contingencies fund.”

The letter is addressed to the Accounting Office, Uganda Embassy in Beijing signed by the Secretary to the Treasury Keith Muhakanizi.

The government had earlier announced that it would send shs228bn but only sent shs2.2bn.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of the challenges the students are facing as regards their welfare. As such, it is in the process of wiring $61,800 (Shs230 million) to support the students in the interim as more evaluation of the situation takes place,” a statement by the ministry read.

This website saw a payslip upon which money was transferred indicating that $600,000 (about Shs2.2b) was sent to the Uganda Embassy in Beijing, China, through the BKCHCNBJ, Bank of China (Head Office) on March 2.
However, a statement presented to Parliament last month by Dr Ruth Jane Aceng the Health Minister on behalf of the Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, indicated that government was in the process of wiring $61,800 (about Shs228b).
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of the challenges the students are facing as regards their welfare. As such it is in the process of wiring $61,800 to support the students in the interim as more evaluation of the situation takes place,” the statement reads in part.

According to the government, Uganda has about 105 students in Wuhan city Universities. 65 are known government-sponsored students while 40 are on private sponsorship.