Four district engineers from the Kigezi region were arrested On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, for allegedly causing financial loss to the government, misuse of office, and corruption.
The arrested include Denis Twesigwomwe, the Rubanda District Engineer; David Otika, the Rubanda District Water Officer; Spencer Ngabirano, the Town Engineer for the Ryakarimira town council in the Kabale District, and Eric Sivaseya Mutumba, the Senior Kanungu District Engineer.
Elly Maate, the Kabale Police Spokesperson, confirmed the arrests and said that the suspects are being held at the Kabale Police Station but will likely be transferred to Kampala for further investigations
The suspects recorded their statements at the main hall of the Kabale Municipal Council.
The Internal Security Organization (ISO)’s Deputy Director of Anti-Corruption Operations, Fatimah Namukwaya, led the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in carrying out the operation.
According to Mariam Natasha, a communications officer from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Twesigwomwe is accused of authorizing payment to Ricky Construction Company, which was contracted to build a UGX 500 million structure at Mpungu Health Cente III in Hamurwa town council during the 2019/2020/2021 financial year, despite the fact that the structure had developed cracks prior to handover.
He was also accused of disregarding the substandard installation of a solar system by the same contractor. Otika is accused of failing to explain how a stalled UGX 6.2 billion Bushura water supply project was implemented in Hamuhambo town council and Bubaare sub-county, Rubanda District, during the 2019/2020 fiscal year, despite the district’s inability to fund it.
The initiative stalled after the district contributed UGX 677 million. Assistant town clerk Alex Ampeire is alleged to have embezzled approximately UGX 414,280,000 in government funds before fleeing to China.
Ngabirano is accused of turning a deaf ear after Ampeire fled to China after stealing the funds and authorizing the expenditure of UGX 60 million on the roofs of condemned staff houses slated for demolition.
Mutumba is accused of authorizing shoddy work and commissioning a structure at Mpungu Health Center IV in Mungu Sub County, Kanungu, despite the structure having cracks prior to handover.
Mutumba is also accused of knowingly authorizing the payment of UGX 55 million in excess to the contractor without disclosing the total cost of the project.
