Internal information obtained by this publication has cast an ugly spotlight on procurement practices in Bundibugyo district, raising troubling questions about whether public contracts are systematically steered towards companies linked to senior technical officers, political loyalists, and individuals allegedly connected to the district’s top political office.
At the center of the allegations are senior district officials and LCV Chairperson Robert Tibakunirwa, whose name repeatedly appears in information obtained and reviewed by this publication.
The obtained information paints a picture of what insiders describe as a tightly controlled procurement network, where contractors allegedly linked to powerful figures repeatedly secure lucrative district projects across education, health, and water infrastructure.
Another official prominently named in the tip-off obtained by this publication is John Byamukama, the District Education Officer (DEO), who is alleged to have been linked to Bukanjimukira and Sons Investment Ltd, a company that reportedly secured multiple district contracts.
According to the internal report, the company won projects including the renovation of a three-classroom block at Mwiribondo Primary School valued at UGX 141.5 million; the completion of a four-classroom block at Bundikahungu Primary School valued at UGX 207.5 million; and the construction of a three-classroom block at Mataisa Primary School valued at UGX 213.7 million.
According to the inside source whose identity is withheld for their safety, Byamukama has direct links to the contractor and is personally involved in supervising workers at some of the construction sites.
The source further points out questions regarding family relationships allegedly connected to company leadership and political influence within district decision-making structures.
The tip-off also references Tibakunirwa, alleging that companies linked to his close political supporters, campaign financiers, and relatives received district contracts across several sectors. Among the contractors identified is Kumalirwa and Sons Investment Ltd, which reportedly benefited from contracts including the Kagugu Gravity Flow Scheme, district health walkways, and restoration of water systems worth hundreds of millions of shillings. The information points out political proximity between the contractor and the LCV chairperson, including claims of family ties and campaign support.
Another contractor, Bukwa (U) Ltd, is identified as having received contracts for classroom construction and health facility renovations. The information points out that the company maintained close political ties to the LCV leadership and benefited from procurement influence linked to political support during electoral campaigns.
The allegations raise broader questions about whether Bundibugyo’s procurement structures became vulnerable to political patronage, where loyalty and connections allegedly mattered more than competitive bidding.
The Bundibugyo’s procurement desk raises serious concerns under Uganda’s Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Act, which requires procurement processes to be conducted in a manner that is fair, transparent, competitive, non-discriminatory, and accountable. The procurement framework also contains safeguards against conflicts of interest and improper influence in contract awards.
Governance experts warn that where technical officers or political leaders are alleged to have interests in companies benefiting from public contracts, procurement committees are expected to ensure declaration of interest, recusal from decision-making, and independent evaluation processes.
The information obtained by this publication names senior officials within procurement and engineering offices and questions whether procurement committees acted independently or whether technical and political pressure shaped contract outcomes. It also alleges there is use of informal influence, private arrangements, and political networks in determining procurement outcomes.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that some of the individuals named are already under quiet scrutiny. Whistleblower accounts warn that any effort to interfere with records, conceal procurement trails, or pressure insiders could worsen accountability concerns rather than contain them, particularly at a time when President Museveni’s government continues to publicly prioritise anti-corruption enforcement and public accountability.
This publication understands that additional evidence is being assembled. In Part II of this investigation story, we will examine company registration records, procurement award notices, bid evaluation documents, payment trails, contractor ownership structures, procurement correspondence, and additional material said to reveal how district contracts were allegedly awarded and who stood to benefit.
