Bursars and accountants in public schools could soon face mandatory lifestyle audits and regular transfers if a new Bill before Parliament is approved.

The Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Sirisia MP John Waluke, proposes that all non-teaching staff in schools declare their income, assets, and liabilities, including those of their spouses and dependent children. The lawmaker said the move is aimed at curbing misuse of school funds and promoting accountability in line with the Public Audit Act.

Waluke told the Education committee that bursars and accountants have for years manipulated school finances for personal gain, a trend he described as contrary to the Public Officers Ethics Act.

“Since time immemorial in basic education institutions, bursars and accountants being appointees of the boards of governance, have been manipulating the funds to their own advantage, which results in self-enrichment. This is in contravention to the Public Officers Ethics Act,” he said.

He noted that the lifestyle audits will align with the Public Audit Act and ensure proper use of public resources in schools.

“This will cause public funds to be used in a prudent manner. In the end, this will enhance the proper implementation of the right to education as envisaged under the Constitution,” Waluke said.

The MP argued that because the National Assembly allocates salaries for school staff, they are public officers and should be scrutinised under anti-corruption laws.

“A person who uses his office to improperly confer a benefit on himself or anyone else is guilty of an offence as stipulated under Section 46 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act and shall be deemed to be an act of abuse of office,” he said.

Waluke added that if the Bill is approved and published, he will push for amendments to ensure bursars and accountants are transferred every three years to prevent corruption and misuse of funds.

“The bursars are like civil servants; why should they serve in one school forever? That is what breeds corruption and misuse of public resources. These people (bursars) have messed up many schools, they have acquired properties all over that you cannot even explain,” he said.

He further explained that extending the audit to spouses would close loopholes where illicit wealth is hidden through relatives.

The Education committee will now examine the proposal before deciding whether to recommend its publication. If cleared, the Bill will move to the formal stage of introduction in the National Assembly for First Reading.