The Town Clerk Nyahuka town council, Mr George Kakwanga (C) being arrested for allegedly paying a contractor for tarmacking the Shs 400 million 1 km Bundimulinga road before works were complete. Photo by Longino Muhindo
SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
BY FELIX BASIIME
& LONGINO MUHINDO
BUNDIBUGYO: Bundibugyo district is in the eye of the storm following allegations of syndicated corruption that has led to loss of tax payers’ money and affected service delivery.
The minister of state for Ethics and Integrity, Rev Fr. Simon Lokodo, who led the anti-corruption team to Bundibugyo District on September 4, 2019 ordered for the arrest of five district officials that were implicated in the corruption scandals by the Rwenzori Anti-corruption
Coalition (RAC) and its local monitors.
They included the Procurement officer, Betty Birungi, the Acting District Production Officer, Robert Muganda, the Town Clerk Nyahuka, George Kakwanga, the Town Engineer Nyahuka town council, Mathius Karamagi, and the DHO Dr Christopher Kiyita who is also the Chairman District Contracts Committee.
Fr Lokodo who led a joint anti-corruption team that comprised of State House anti-corruption team, Inspectorate of Government,(IGG), Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) and police among others were conducting anti-corruption tribunals in Bundibugyo, Ntoroko and Kabarole districts.
The forum that brings together all organs of
government that fight corruption in the country was chaired by
State Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Office of the President, Rev Fr.
Simon Lokodo and comprised other organs; State House anti-corruption team,
Government Inspectorate, PPDA, Public Prosecution and Police local government
fraud and anti-corruption department.
The team that has been conducting public
tribunals in Bundibugyo, Ntoroko and Kabarole districts found several audit and
procurement queries in the local governments and followed complaints earlier
raised by the local whistle blowers and the Rwenzori Anti-Corruption Coalition
(RAC), an NGO operating in Rwenzori sub region.
The officials were
arrested over mismanagement of public funds in their offices and awarding of
illegal contracts. The implicated staffs were given a hearing before they were
arrested
after failing to satisfy the Fr Lokodo team. They were whisked away by police and recorded statements at Bundibugyo central police station to help in investigations.
after failing to satisfy the Fr Lokodo team. They were whisked away by police and recorded statements at Bundibugyo central police station to help in investigations.
The reports presented
to the team by Ms Agela Byangwa, the Executive Director RAC, an NGO operating
in the Rwenzori sub region, the District Public Accounts Committee, internal
audit, RDC’s office implicated some district officials, some of who were
transferred in alleged syndicate of corruption scandals.
“Hon Minister, I wish to inform you that here in Bundibugyo there is ring fencing of government business, all contracts are being awarded to only 3 companies year after year, I tried to blacklist some of them for doing shoddy work but some district staff have failed to show up
to testify in our investigations” said Ms Lydia Kwesiga, the Regional Manager PPDA, adding, “There is syndicated corruption in Bundibugyo, very shocking reports”
RAC’s Byangwa pinned the Town Clerk of Nyahuka for allegedly selling government property, a slaughtering land slab and also paid a contractor for tarmacking the Shs 400 million 1 km Bundimulinga road before works were complete using “force on account” which things he
accepted before the team.
“Hon Minister, Nyahuka has been a problem, there are so many government properties that have been sold off since 2017 without approval of council and money goes to individuals” said Byangwa.
Fr Lokodo also ordered the arrest of Mr Eliphazi Mugenyi, the former head teacher at Kisubba primary school who allegedly contracted himself and did shoddy work on the 3 classroom blocks in 2013 and did not complete the work and the school is now in a sorry state.
Fr Lokodo also summoned the former Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Franco Olaboro (Now CAO Bukwo) and former Nyahuka Town Clerk, Ms Katusiime Harriet (now promoted to Deputy CAO Kyenjojo) to appear before his team to defend themselves on the alleged involvement in the corruption they could have committed during their work in the district.
Ms Kwesiga, the Regional Manager PPDA said the main contractors that usually win awards in Bundibugyo are: M/s Kenzi, M/s Kake corporates ltd and M/s Secco Construction Company.
Kwesiga added “The procurement department does not issue contracts to bidders but rather considers the individuals of their interest, the District Procurement Department has also falsified Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) income tax documents to make fake accountability of public funds”
Fr Lokodo said that there are mainly four gate keepers of government money before it is stolen, they include the Permanent Secretary, the CAO, the Town clerk and the Sub County Chief, “So whenever am investigating money I zero on these, no public money can be lost with
these not being aware”
“Hon Minister, I wish to inform you that here in Bundibugyo there is ring fencing of government business, all contracts are being awarded to only 3 companies year after year, I tried to blacklist some of them for doing shoddy work but some district staff have failed to show up
to testify in our investigations” said Ms Lydia Kwesiga, the Regional Manager PPDA, adding, “There is syndicated corruption in Bundibugyo, very shocking reports”
RAC’s Byangwa pinned the Town Clerk of Nyahuka for allegedly selling government property, a slaughtering land slab and also paid a contractor for tarmacking the Shs 400 million 1 km Bundimulinga road before works were complete using “force on account” which things he
accepted before the team.
“Hon Minister, Nyahuka has been a problem, there are so many government properties that have been sold off since 2017 without approval of council and money goes to individuals” said Byangwa.
Fr Lokodo also ordered the arrest of Mr Eliphazi Mugenyi, the former head teacher at Kisubba primary school who allegedly contracted himself and did shoddy work on the 3 classroom blocks in 2013 and did not complete the work and the school is now in a sorry state.
Fr Lokodo also summoned the former Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Franco Olaboro (Now CAO Bukwo) and former Nyahuka Town Clerk, Ms Katusiime Harriet (now promoted to Deputy CAO Kyenjojo) to appear before his team to defend themselves on the alleged involvement in the corruption they could have committed during their work in the district.
Ms Kwesiga, the Regional Manager PPDA said the main contractors that usually win awards in Bundibugyo are: M/s Kenzi, M/s Kake corporates ltd and M/s Secco Construction Company.
Kwesiga added “The procurement department does not issue contracts to bidders but rather considers the individuals of their interest, the District Procurement Department has also falsified Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) income tax documents to make fake accountability of public funds”
Fr Lokodo said that there are mainly four gate keepers of government money before it is stolen, they include the Permanent Secretary, the CAO, the Town clerk and the Sub County Chief, “So whenever am investigating money I zero on these, no public money can be lost with
these not being aware”
He also pinned police
for allegedly derailing the fight against corruption by delaying the files for over 3 months. He
was referring to cases of stolen drugs in health centres around Bundibugyo
where police said that they haven’t determined the cost of the stolen drugs, a
thing they argued is vital for court proceedings.
“I think the system in Bundibugyo should be overhauled, this systematic corruption, and this former Town Clerk of Nyahuka we can withdraw her appointment as Deputy CAO Kyenjojo, she should be demoted, she was invited here but she refused, and those who falsified URA documents must be arrested and prosecuted for impersonation and forgery” he said in sorrows.
In accordance with article 164 of the Constitution, all public officers are personally and pecuniary responsible for the due performance of the financial duties of their offices, for the proper collection and custody of all administration monies, stores, and assets receivable by them or under their authority.
END
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