The State House Anti-Corruption Unit together with Uganda Police have arrested six Mbale City Council officials on various corruption allegations.
The Legal Officer at the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Lieutenant Daniel Mayombo noted that, in the financial year 2021/22, the arrested officers set low reserve prices while awarding revenue collection contracts.
“This led to low revenue realization and frustration with development and service delivery in Mbale District,” Lieutenant Mayombo said.
According to Lt. Mayombo, Speaker Myriam Nambuya and Clerk to Council, Annet Wawule conspired with other Councillors, to improperly pass a motion to lower the property fee from 8% to 4%. The Councillors allegedly did this in order to get kickbacks from Mbale City property owners.
“The Senior Human Resource Officer, Abdul Kigenyi, irregularly added ghost personnel to the payroll, costing the government about Ugx 100million in lost wages. Additionally, he paid Ugx 3billion inadvertently to 401 secondary and tertiary employees who were not listed in the Education Service Commission’s database,” Lt. Mayombo noted.
Lt. Mayombo added that, the Assistant Accountant, Emmanuel Gidudu colluded with the present Town Clerk for the Northern Division, James Kutosi to embezzle about Ugx 43million intended for fencing Mayor Primary School in Mbale.
Lt. Mayombo stated that, by giving applicants fake receipts, the Principal Health Inspector, Wandera Charles, stole money from the medical examination costs and suitability fees.
The former Town Clerk of Northern Division, Martin Busiku irregularly committed government to contracts worth Ugx 74million and embezzled over Ugx 150million in the under-assessment of property rates, according to Lt. Mayombo.
The arrests follow the commencement of various investigations by State House Anti-corruption Unit in Mbale City.
