By Spy Uganda
Kampala: The State House Anti-Corruption Unit working together with Police has arrested five Bunyangabu district officials over Corruption related allegations.
The Principal Human Resource Officer, Ikiriza Lucy has been arrested for fraudulently enrolling three teachers namely Kiiza Joselyn, Mucunguzi Kasangaki and Achan Winnifred on the district payroll yet the three teachers had forged minutes from the Education Service Commission purporting that they had been appointed as education officers which was not true.
Consequently, the district has lost over UGX50, 000,000 in salaries since their irregular appointment in 2021.
The Principal Human Resource Officer did not verify these appointments with the Education Service Commission as mandated before adding the teachers to Payroll.
In addition, the Chief Finance Officer, Basaliza Joseph, the District Production Officer, Asiimwe Yusta and District Agricultural Officer, Tumwesigye Gerald have also been arrested for the mismanagement of over UGX90,000,000 funds allocated for the implementation of the Agricultural Cluster Development Project (ACDP) in Bunyangabo District Local Government. The Project is intended to improve production and productivity in the coffee and maize value chains.
The arrested officials mismanaged funds and falsified accountability documents purporting to have undertaken planned activities whereas not.
There are several fraudulent entries identified in the accountabilities including altering figures on accountability documents claiming certain activities took place for which money was paid, whereas not.
Rugumba Elon, former Sub County Chief, Kabonero Sub County in Bunyangabo district was also arrested over the shoddy construction of the police Office/cells at Kabonero Sub County.
As a result, the government lost over UGX5, 800,000 from the District Discretion Equalization Grant.
Rugumba did not follow the procurement process and contracted Kabonero Savings and Credit Group Society which did not have any expertise in construction which resulted in a poorly constructed building which should be demolished.
State House Anti Corruption Unit has registered a huge success against corruption and has been able to recover over UGX30 billion in taxpayers’ money through prosecutions, and other measures used to compel corrupt officials to refund embezzled public funds.
The Unit has so far investigated different public servants for graft, including members of parliament, accounting officers, security personnel, and directors of several government agencies and commissions among other Gov’t big fish.
In addition to the above, the Unit has also ensured the safe return of over 600 Ugandans stranded after being trafficked to Arab countries.
It has also conclusively investigated over 10,000 cases and interdicted over 200 government workers from public offices. SH-ACU was established under Article 99(4) of the constitution of Uganda, which gives the President executive powers to either directly or indirectly perform his duties or through officers subordinate to him.
Launched on 10th December 2018, SH-ACU coordinates with all constitutionally mandated agencies to ensure that complaints raised by citizens are resolved. The Unit also acts as a link between H.E. the President, citizens, and Anti- Corruption agencies in relation to Anti-Corruption issues.
