David Otika, Rubanda District Water Officer struggling to get out of a police patrol pick up(Photo Credit Samuel Amanya)
Four district engineers from the Kigezi region spent the night in police cells on charges of causing financial loss to the government, abuse of office, and corruption.
They are Denis Twesigwomwe, Rubanda District Engineer; David Otika, Rubanda District Water Officer; Spencer Ngabirano, Town Engineer of Ryakarimira town council in Kabale District; and Eric Sivaseya Mutumba, Senior Engineer of Kanungu District.
The suspects were apprehended on Tuesday evening by officials from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit led by Fatimah Namukwaya, the deputy director of anti-corruption operations under the Internal Security Organization (ISO). They were arrested after providing statements at the main hall of Kabale Municipal Council.
Denis Twesigwomwe is accused of authorizing payments to Ricky Construction company, which had contracted to construct a structure worth Shillings 500 million at Mpungu Health Center III in Hamurwa town council during the 2019/2020/2021 financial year.
However, the building developed cracks before the handover, and Twesigwomwe is also accused of ignoring the installation of a substandard solar system by the same contractor.
David Otika is accused of failing to explain how a stalled Shillings 6.2 billion Bushura water supply project was implemented in Hamuhambo town council and Bubaare sub-county, Rubanda district, during the 2019/2020 financial year when the district lacked the necessary funding capacity. The project came to a halt after the district had already invested Shillings 677 million.
Spencer Ngabiranio is accused of turning a blind eye when the Assistant Town Clerk, Alex Ampeire, embezzled approximately Shillings 414.28 million in government funds and subsequently fled to China. Ngabiranio is also alleged to have sanctioned the expenditure of Shillings 60 million on roofing condemned staff houses pending demolition.
Eric Sivaseya Mutumba is accused of authorizing works and allowing a contractor to construct a structure at Mpungu Health Center IV in Mungu sub-county, Kanungu, despite the building having cracks before handover. Additionally, Mutumba is accused of deliberately approving the payment of Shillings 55 million in excess to the contractor without disclosing the total cost of the project.
Elly Maate, the Police spokesperson for the Kigezi region, confirms that the arrested officials are currently held at Kabale police station while investigations continue. Maate mentions that the suspects are likely to be transferred to Kampala to appear before the anti-corruption court and face charges accordingly.
The case has been registered at Kabale Police Station under file numbers ACU/GEF 074/2023 and ACU/GEF 075/2023. The arrest of the suspects follows the recent supervision of several government projects in Kanungu, Rubanda, Kabale, and Rukiga by Beatrice Akello Akori, the State Minister for Economic Monitoring. She directed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to intervene after uncovering extensive corruption practices.
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