Four District Engineers detained as two CAOs vanish in raid related to theft.

KABALE-UGANDA/ NEWSDAY:State House Anti Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) in conjunction with the Minister of Economic Monitoring,Beatrice Akello Akor are visiting Kigezi Sub region on an economic  monitoring exercise.

Their visit revealed several corruption cases and four officials from the districts of Rubanda,Kabale and Kanungu have so far been arrested on allegations of emblezzelment, causing financial loss and mismanagement of government funds meant for critical social projects.

The detained officials include Denis Twesigomwe the District Engineer Rubanda District. He was arrested over shoddy works at Mpungu HCIII where he was the project manager.

“He also cleared certificates of completion of works resulting into the payment of over Shs48,975,405 yet the works on ground were Shoddy. The roof is leaking with walls having multiple cracks, doors falling out among others,” a statement released by SH-ACU said in Wednesday.

Mr. Mutumba Sivaseya Eric, the District Engineer Kanungu District was arrested over irregularities in the construction project to upgrade Ntungamo Health Centre II to III.

“He certified an over payment of Shs55Million to the contractor Kaleeta Construction limited and yet the construction works were incomplete and shoddily done.  For example there is no ceiling at the Health Centre yet it was part of the contract BOQs,”State House said. The terrazo floor is incomplete both internally and externally.

Ngabirano Spencer, Town Engineer, Ryakarimira Town Council is alleged to have conspired with the former town clerk Ryakarimira Town Council, Alex Ampaire to defraud the town council of over shs105,000, 000 meant to be paid to the contractor for construction of the Multipurpose council hall and renovation  of staff houses.

The staff houses which were roofed are already dilapidated and inhabitable with no windows  doors and floors.

“He also originated and cleared requisitions for the shs105M which the town clerk withdrew and ran away with. The town clerk is still at large,” the SH-ACU said said a hot pursuit for him had commenced.

The Rubanda District Water Officer, Engineer Otika David has also been arrested for causing financial loss of over shs600m together with the former CAO Rubanda district  Mulamira Aggrey who has gone into hiding.

The funds were used for the construction of a water reservoir without a water source. The reservoir is a component of the proposed Bushura water project which would cost shs6.2B whose designs haven’t been approved by the Ministry of water &environment. The district has no clear source of funds to complete the project which raises a risk of the constructed reservoir delapitating.