IBANDA DISTRICT SH24BN SHODDY PROJECTS STORM! Minister Balaam Orders Arrests, Interdictions Over Dead Projects, Missing Water And Road Funds
KAMPALA — Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara has called for the arrest and interdiction of several current and former Ibanda District and Municipality officials over alleged financial impropriety involving more than Shs24 billion allocated to public projects.
The minister issued the directives on Tuesday during an anti-corruption meeting with district and municipal leaders, stakeholders and technical officers in Ibanda, where he demanded investigations into alleged mismanagement of funds meant for roads, health facilities, water supply and other infrastructure.
Barugahara directed anti-corruption agencies to investigate the officials named, recover any public money found to have been misappropriated and halt the retirement benefits of former Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Kweronda Ruhemba until investigations are concluded.
Among those named were former district engineers Mesarch Ayebazibwe and Johnbosco Tumusiime, current district engineer James Katongole, district internal auditor and District Health Officer Julius Bamwine.
Others include municipal physical planner Gordon Sande, Felix Mukundane, former Bufunda Division Town Clerk Uthman Sebadduka, municipal engineer William Sande, Block Technical Investments director Innocent Rugyeru and Ministry of Works engineer Moses Ebalu.
The allegations touch on several projects, with the minister questioning how substantial public investments could have failed to deliver the intended services.
One of the projects under scrutiny is a Shs90m solar streetlighting scheme intended to supply and install 21 solar streetlights along Mprira and Bufunda streets in Bufunda Division, Ibanda Municipality.
According to Barugahara, the streetlights installed under the project are not functional.
He attributed the alleged failures to lapses in supervision and accountability involving former town clerk Sebadduka, Bufunda Division Town Clerk Kamugisha and municipal engineer Sande.
The minister also raised questions about two health facility upgrades: Bwahwa Health Centre II to Health Centre III, valued at Shs1.2bn, and a similar upgrade at Kihani Health Centre II, which received Shs680m.
But perhaps the biggest concern is the Shs20bn Kicence-Keihagara-Igorora water supply scheme implemented under the Ministry of Water and Environment.
Barugahara said the project was reportedly completed in 2021, yet residents have continued waiting for water despite the huge public investment.
An audit report cited during the meeting reportedly found that more than 400 residents had each paid Shs100,000 through Centenary Bank for water connections but had neither received the service nor been refunded.
The minister questioned how residents could pay for connections to a scheme that had reportedly been completed without getting the promised water.
Road maintenance funds and district machinery are also under the spotlight, with Barugahara raising concerns over the expenditure of Shs2bn earmarked for road works and equipment management.
He cited a tipper truck, registration number UG 2369W, reportedly parked at the district headquarters, and a Caterpillar motor grader, serial number EROG001661, currently at the Ministry of Works workshop in Mbarara.
According to the minister, the grader has reportedly been at the workshop since 2016 despite continued allocations for its repairs.
Barugahara accused district engineer Johnbosco Tumusiime, district internal auditor James Katongole and district chairperson Happy Herbert Mayanja of involvement in allegedly falsified payments relating to the equipment.
He called for an independent audit of the expenditure and recovery of any money found to have been improperly paid out.
The Shs1bn Rishangu tarmac road project was also flagged over alleged irregularities and incomplete works.
The project reportedly included a Shs900m contribution from President Yoweri Museveni and was contracted to Roko and Data Solution under the leadership of engineer Deus Nuwagaba.
Those implicated include former town clerk Victor Kakwesije, former Rishangu Town Council engineer Denis Sava Dennis and Chief Finance Officer Austin Ahimisiwe, who are accused of authorising payments for works allegedly not completed.
Barugahara tasked the relevant anti-corruption agencies with pursuing the allegations, establishing individual responsibility and recovering public funds where wrongdoing is proven.
He also ordered that Ruhemba’s retirement package be withheld pending the outcome of investigations.
However, district chairperson Happy Herbert Mayanja reportedly denied knowledge of any district vehicles requiring mechanical repairs.
The allegations have yet to be established through the relevant investigations.
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