Hundreds of locals could be homeless along Karugutu-Ntoroko oil road over unfair compensations

WORRIED, Ms Mirirani Tingiramurungi stands on top of the debris of her old house in sorrows as she complted her new house in the in background in Karugutu town council. Photo by Felix Basiime

BY FELIX BASIIME

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

NTOROKO: Ms Mirirani Tingiramurungi, 70, has lived in Karugutu town council for most of her life in an eight roomed permanent house along the Karugutu-Ntoroko 55 km road.

However, after Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) in early September 2019 gave a notice to over 80 households living along the Karugutu-Ntoroko oil road to vacate the road reserve in three months time, some of the residents including Tingiramurungi demolished their structures and started building new ones.

UNRA had compensated some but not all residents between June and August 2019 according to Mr Kyaligonza Abubakar, the chairman Grievance Management Committee (GMC) Karugutu Town Council.

Little did they know that after demolishing their structures under fear, the money they were given by UNRA as compensation won’t be enough to put up new structures of the same size or even relocate elsewhere and are now stranded.

“UNRA gave me a notice to vacate early this month, and out of fear I demolished my eight roomed house near the road, but the Shs 28 million they gave me as compensation in June has failed to put up a new structure of 8 rooms just few meters behind in my plot, it is now on the ring beam and money is over” Tingiramurungi in sorrows told Daily Monitor on Friday as she stood on top of the debris holding one of the iron bars left in the strong pillar of her old house.

When i visited most homes along the same road on September 27, the story was the same, all residents have failed to put up new structures and are crying foul over what they say was unfair compensation from government.

Tingiramurungi now lives in a makeshift small room under a tree that she used as her kitchen before.

“I have failed to complete my new structure and am now putting up in that small structure under a tree and when it rains I suffer from coldness, at my age I may die very soon” Tingiramurungi said, adding, “The government valuer was so cunning, he intimidated all of us to sign for the little money and when one would refuse he would threaten that he will deposit your money in court and road works will start, so we signed under duress”

Mr Kiiza David, 60, of Nyabuhura II village in Karugutu town council said he bought the plot along Karugutu-Ntoroko road at Shs 18 million in 2016 without any structures on it but that UNRA gave him the same amount in June when he has a house on it and has failed to set a new house.

“The engineers have computed bills of quantities and labour at Shs 35 million for the new house and I have failed now, so even if I get the money to put up a new house I will have lost my plot” Kiiza said.

Area councilor, Ms Olivia Mutamba said, “People have failed to build new houses in town using the money they got as compensation from government, in town we need well planned houses, the government valuer intimidated and threatened our people to sign for little money, even the disturbance fee was too little as Shs 2 million and things are very expensive now”

Mr Yahaya Tumusiime, the Community Process Facilitator under Kabarole Research and Resource Centre said, “The people fear court, most of them have never stepped in court, so by the government valuer telling then to sign or pick the compensation money from court as works go on was enough intimidation to force the people to sign for little money, these are defenseless and if government does not quickly intervene so many people will be homeless”

In a September 13 letter to the Manager UNRA regional branch, Mr Kyaligonza Abubakar, the chairman Grievance Management Committee (GMC) Karugutu Town Council said, “The cost of the pieces of land of the affected persons as showed by their land agreements were highly undervalued, the government valuer forced the affected persons to consent by signing for the compensations”  

However, when contacted over the threat of eviction and unfair compensation, the UNRA regional manager, Ms Rachael Ngonzebwa said, “We are going to meet the affected people soon and hear their complaints and see how we can solve them; the exercise of compensating is still going on”

Oil roads

Work on some of the 12 oil roads country wide started in April 2018 which all total measure 700kms. The roads are to facilitate the movement of oil and the equipment.

Karugutu lies along the Fort Portal–Ntoroko Road, where it meets the Fort Portal–Bundibugyo Road, west of the Tooro Semliki Game reserve.

UNRA has planned to upgrade the 55.4 kilometres Karugutu–Ntoroko Road (that leads to Kanywataba oil field) to class II bituminous surface, with culverts and drainage channels.

The road designs were completed and works may start in January 2020.

Oil roads under UNRA

Name	Length in Kms				Source of Funds
Paara-Pakwach	21.49
Kisanja Park jctn-Paara	71.27
Rwera-Kaseeta	15.43
Kibaale-Kiziranfumbi	25.11
Masindi-Biiso	48.77
Kyotera-Rakai	19.1
Villa_Maria_Sembabule_-_Lwemiyaga_junction	42.21
Hoima-Kaiso_Tonya	82.69
Lusalira_Nkonge-Lumegere	52.14
Buliisa-Paara	29.05
Sambiya-Murchison falls	12.33
Wanseko-Bugungu	21.22
Buhimba-Nalweyo-Bulamagi	50.49
Kabwoya-Kituti	41.32
Kakumiro-Nkondo-Kijaguza-Bulamagi	40.99
Karugutu-Ntoroko	55
Hohwa-Nyairongo-Kyarushesha	25
Hoima-International Airport

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Fort Portal municipal council to lose out on the USMID funds due to corruption

The 0.944 Km Nyakana-Kagote road in Fort Portal town that has been was completed under USMID program. The road has boosted business around Fort Portal town. Photo by ALEX ASHABA

SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

BY FELIX BASIIME

KABAROLE: Fort Portal Municipal council will feel the pinch again of missing out on the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) project for about two financial years due to poor audit issues according to the Public Procurement and disposal of public assets authority (PPDA).

“Fort Portal municipal council will miss out on the USMID funds for about two financial years due to poor accountability of the funds disbursed to them in the previous years and USMID is one of the key projects of the World Bank that when mishandled can close other taps of funding” said Ms Lydia Kwesiga, the Regional Manager Public Procurement and disposal of public assets authority (PPDA) on September 6, 2019.

USMID is a five-year World Bank funded project aimed at enhancing institutional performance and improving urban service delivery. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. It commenced in 2013/2014 and will end in 2018/2019.

Under the USMID program, Fort Portal Municipality has received Shs 13,661,211,936 over the five year program period 2013/14 to 2017/18.

Using these funds, the Municipality has rehabilitated roads and constructed infrastructure including: Nyakana-Kagote Road, Market Road, Access roads and Rukidi III street totaling to 1.302 km; installation of 58 solar street lights; and construction of Mugunu Lorry park with 3,454 square meters of parking space.

Under the additional funding of USMID, Fort Portal is expected to receive about Shs 25.4 billion over the five year period 2018/19 to 2022/23 but this may remain on paper if the accountability and procurement gaps are not fixed.

These funds were meant to improve road infrastructure of about 15 km that include Kahungabunyonyi road, Rwengoma road network, Kagote road and Kuku-Karamaga Road among others; solar street lighting; urban solid waste management, drainage and storm water control and construction of Kabundeire farmer’s market.

The poor accountability issues and alleged corruption in these projects took centre stage on September 6, 2019 during a tribunal by the Inter government agency forum to fight corruption.

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.

In one of the salient cases, East Division chairman, Mr Willy Magezi said, “We as Divisions we don’t know how much we collect or what is due to us, it is only known by the Town Clerk who has usurped our duties as Divisions, we have been disfranchised and this is against the law”

Previously, Fort Portal missed out on the funds for the 2016/2017 financial year for alleged failure to meet the minimum requirements. It also had challenges with procurement of contractors for civil works, disagreements between the technical staff and political leaders and failure to account for the funds disbursed in the 2015/2016 financial year to the municipality.

Ms Kwesiga, the Regional Manager Public Procurement and disposal of public assets authority said that whereas Fort Portal was doing well in procurement in the past, of recent three years it has done poorly that has led to suspension of USMID funds.

Recently Fort Portal municipality was elevated to a city status among the first 5 cities to be operational in July 2020 but the Resident District Commissioner, Mr Steven Asiimwe observed that the corruption and in fighting will slow the pace of development.

“The pace of development of Fort Portal will definitely be affected by such issues as raised by the PPDA unless the technical staff and the political wing come on the same table and plan together to develop the town” observed Asiimwe.

The reports raised by the 2 division chairmen, Mr Willy Magezi (East), Mr Herbert Mugisa (South) and Ms Sylvia Kihunde, the Senior Accountant all pinned the Town Clerk, Mr Geoffrey Bamanyisa over several alleged flaws in procurement processes and prompted Rev Fr Lokodo to order for his arrest despite being away on leave.

However, Fort Portal Mayor, Rev Willy Kintu Muhanga refuted some allegations raised by the division chairmen in the tendering of contracts in town.

“We use the right procedures and it is not true that the same companies have won tenders over the years” Muhanga said.

The division chairmen accused Bamanyisa of paralyzing business in town by going on leave without delegating his powers to his juniors to release funds.

“As we talk now, it is over 10 days the divisions can’t pay for anything just because the Town Clerk went on leave” said Magezi.

“This is not acceptable, the Town Clerk and any other person implicated must be brought to order, am leaving behind part of my team for 10 days to dig deep into these allegations and within one month we shall leave no stone unturned” Fr Lokodo said.

Fort Portal municipal council has had 4 Town clerks since 2015, Mr Paul Amoko, Mr Leonard Tumusiime, Mr Deo Ndimu and now Geoffrey Bamanyisa. All of them have had to pull strings with the political heads either with the mayor or with the Speaker over disagreements on allowances or projects.

The USMID project came into force after the World Bank Board of Executive Directors in March 2013 approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit of US$150 million to finance urban infrastructure and improve service delivery in 14 municipalities in Uganda.

The municipalities include: Arua, Gulu, Lira (Northern Uganda), Soroti, Moroto, Mbale, Tororo, Jinja (Eastern Uganda); Entebbe, Masaka (Central); Mbarara, Kabale, Fort Portal and Hoima (Western Uganda).

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Corruption in Bundibugyo shocks Minister Lokodo, State House anti-corruption teams

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.

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”

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.

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UWA in drive to rid game parks of exotic plants

A herd of female kobs in the Savana vegetation of Queen Elizabeth National Park. A huge swath of the park has been invaded by exotic plants. PHOTO BY ERIC DOMINIC BUKENYA.  

THURSDAY AUGUST 15 2019

https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/UWA-game-parks-exotic-plants-Semuliki-Queen-Elizabeth/688334-5235894-hqi74f/index.html

By LONGINO MUHINDO & FELIX BASIIME

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has started a drive to cut down all exotic trees that have become invasive [tending to spread very quickly and undesirably or harmfully], thereby affecting the ecosystem in national parks.

The drive that started last week at Semuliki National Park in Bundibugyo District, is also aimed at restoring the animal habitats.
“Most animals that had strayed from the parks because of these invasive plants have come back after restoration of some habitats, especially in Queen Elizabeth National Park,” Mr Bashir Hangi, the UWA spokesman, said on Tuesday.

Tourism is one of the top revenue contributors to the economy, fetching the country $1.45b (about Shs5.3 trillion) last financial year.

Mr Nelson Guma, the chief warden of Kibale Conservation Area (that covers two game parks and two game reserves), said the exotic trees that were planted in the park in the 1970s, do not contribute so much in terms of providing needs of the wild animals, the reason UWA is cutting them down and planting indigenous trees to improve the quality of habitats for animals, providing cover and food for animals.

“UWA has contracted a firm to remove the huge exotic trees in the parks, and thereafter, we shall engage local communities to undertake the removing of young exotic trees,” Mr Guma added.

He further said the campaign will create job opportunities to the local communities and also provide them minor forest produce like poles and firewood.

“Most of these plants have repulsive characters. They were planted along the roads in the parks but they have now spread all over the park,” explained Mr Guma.

Last year, UWA launched a Shs500m multi–pronged pilot project to fight Invasive Alien Species (IAS) that are threatening to take over Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo parks.

About 1,256sq km of Queen Elizabeth National Park is under the IAS, leaving only 722sq km of unaffected area for animals. The park measures 1,978 sq km.

Lake Mburo is worse, with only 39sq Km out of 260sq km unaffected by the invasive species.

Background
Why do away with exotic plants. Mr Nelson Guma, the chief warden of Kibale Conservation Area, says Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are a threat to birds and mammals.

He adds that they are a threat to tourism and are one of the main causes of human–wildlife conflict. He further said IAS eat up the pasture for wild animals, forcing the wildlife to community lands.
They also close up areas for game viewing, making it difficult for tourists to see the animals.