The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has dismissed allegations that the Parliamentary Commission failed to deliver solar panels to Arua Regional Referral Hospital after budgeting for them, saying no funds were ever released for the project.

The clarification, issued on Saturday, September 6th, 2025, follows a social media storm under the hashtag #ParliamentCSRHeistUg and widespread media reports sparked by claims from the human rights group Agora Discourse.

The group alleged that Parliament, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, had promised but failed to provide solar panels to the hospital.

During a Parliament exhibition protest last week, critics accused the Speaker’s office of misusing CSR funds.

Appearing on NTV’s On the Spot programme, Parliament’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chris Obore, acknowledged that solar panels had been procured. However, this claim was immediately contradicted by the hospital’s administration, which insisted it had never received them.

Providing a counter-narrative, Deputy IGG Dr. Patricia Achan said preliminary investigations found no record of funds being released for the project.

“The IGG has learnt through media reports about the alleged promise to supply solar panels to Arua Hospital. Our findings confirm that while quotations indicated an inflated cost of over UGX 200 million, Parliament did not release any funds for this project, as the hospital is already connected to the grid,” Dr. Achan stated.

She stressed the Inspectorate’s reliance on evidence-based investigations:

“The Office of the IGG works with verified information and official reports, not rumours, to ensure accountability and safeguard the public interest,” the Deputy IGG added.

The revelation of inflated quotations has raised fresh concerns about procurement practices within Parliament’s CSR initiatives.

Anti-corruption activists are now pressing for deeper inquiries into who initiated the quotations and why costs appeared exaggerated.

Public reaction remains divided. While some Ugandans have welcomed the IGG’s clarification as a step toward transparency, others remain skeptical and are demanding a full audit of Parliament’s CSR expenditures over the years.

The IGG has confirmed that investigations into the matter are ongoing.

With inquiries still underway, the IGG has urged the public to remain patient as it works to establish the full facts surrounding the controversial solar panel claims.