Government issues stringent conditions for donors and development partners operating in Uganda

UGANDA – The government has issued stringent guidelines for all donor agencies and development partners operating in Uganda.

Through the Ministry of Finance, the government wants all donors and development partners to have uniformity in their operations with the country’s development plans and with full knowledge of government monitoring agencies.

In a circular letter signed by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija, “All development partners should have jointly prepared country strategy papers with the government to ensure that the proposed support is in line with Uganda’s aspirations as enshrined in Vision 2040,” the letter reads in part.

It also stipulates that all agreements and contracts of development assistance should be signed off by the Minister for Finance, as a measure to avoid duplication of efforts.

This will also require all development assistance and projects to be implemented together with or in consultation with the relevant government departments to ensure sustainability of investments carried out.

“The above guideline applies to all programs to be implemented by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the private sector,” It stressed in part.

Reportedly, intended to streamline development assistance in the country, the guidelines compel all partners to seek for cabinet approval of their assistance and signed off by the Minister for Finance, with prior submission of all projects and programs for internal clearance.

The letter, which was also copied to the Embassies in Uganda, including the major donors like; Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden further demands that all development assistance should be appropriated by Parliament including those whose accounts would be managed off the treasury single account.

Other Embassies copied include; Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Iceland, France, China, Japan, Italy, India, South Korea, and the European Union.

The Ministry of Finance has also provided a special reporting arrangement under the program-based budgeting system in the ministry to cater for funds off the treasury’s single account.

This would in-effect require that all funds provided by the development partners would be reported on for budgeting by the government.

The letter signed by the Minister for Finance Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija also reports that the government has provided a Comprehensive Aid Management Platform where all support by the development partners are reported on and monitored; urging all players to use it to enable the government have a comprehensive approach to all development cooperation efforts.

The letter also compels all development partners to comply and adhere to the new guidelines to ensure transparency.

The letter was also sent to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative, World Bank Country Manager, African Development Bank, Country Manager, and Arab Contractors.

Others on the receiving end include; JICA Offices in Kampala and the Economic and Commercial Counsellor, at the Chinese Embassy in Kampala.

The government has on a number of occasions clashed with Civil Society Organizations over what they referred to as illicit funding.

Early this year, Lawyer Nicolas Opio who is also the Director of Chapter Four, a human rights Organization was charged with money laundering after receiving funding from development partners overseas.

CSO’s and private businesses have always alleged that police and other security agencies raid their offices to hack into data regarding funding and other security objectives.

Those raided over the years include; Action Aid-Uganda, Human Rights Network, Unwanted Witness, Anti-Corruption Coalition, The Uhuru Institute for Social Development, Great Lakes Institute on Strategic Studies among others.

https://thecooperator.news/statement-on-the-raid-of-the-uhuru-institute-for-social-development-office/

Bank accounts of some Organizations like Chapter Four, Action-Aid, GLISS among others were once frozen by the government pending investigations over allegations levelled on their funding and other irregularities.

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Post Bank Uganda trains more than 100 farmers on loan management in Acholi Sub Region

GULU – More than 100 farmers from various farmer groups and cooperatives in Acholi sub-region have been trained on loan management skills by Post Bank Uganda.

The one-day training held at Boma Hotel in Gulu city, was aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and a savings culture among farmers.

Jimmy Ocen, the Manager in charge of lending at Post Bank Uganda, while addressing the farmers said, most farmers who borrow loans for farming instead divert the money to other things like buying land and building houses among others.

“Most times people get a loan and divert its purpose. We are trying to show them that you can actually get a loan and pay it back comfortably if you put it in the right purpose, if you choose a profitable enterprise.”

He said on several occasions, when they carry out monitoring visits of farmers who have borrowed loans to engage in farming, they find no activity on the ground.

The farmers were also encouraged to embrace insurance for their crops against natural disasters like floods, drought and hailstorms.

https://thecooperator.news/farmers-encouraged-to-take-up-agricultural-insurance/

“Agricultural insurance is very cheap at only 5%. The government even subsidizes it by paying 2.5%.

Simon Opiyo, the Chairperson Paicho Central Kal Growers Cooperative acknowledged that farmers indeed divert loan money to other projects hence leading to their failure.

He however said, that the training was timely and would help farmers increase their production.

Santa Abwot, a farmer from Amuru district said that they did not know about Agricultural insurance yet they have been suffering losses due to floods and drought.

In Gulu district alone, food crops worth Shs 2.6 billion was lost in hailstorms in three sub-counties of Bungatira, Awach and Pukony in the month of July 2021, according to a report from the district.

It’s estimated that 2, 215 acres of crops like maize, beans, cassava, millet, soy bean, ground nuts, potatoes, bananas and tree seedlings were destroyed in hailstorms.

In a request to the Office of the Prime Minister in charge of Emergency Assistance, Gulu Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Okaka Geoffrey stated that the crops would have yielded 2,745 tones if the hailstorms had not destroyed them.

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France offers Uganda a grant worth Shs 286b for extension water services in Isingiro district

ISINGIRO – The French government has offered Uganda a grant totaling 69M Euros (about Shs 286b) in a bid to extend water services in Isingiro district.

The funding to build a water project in Isingiro district was allocated through the French government’s agency Françoise de Development (AFD).

The money was received by the Uganda Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija and the French Ambassador to Uganda, Stephanie Rivoal and witnessed by the National Water Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) Executive Director, Engineer Silver Mugisha.

According to Mugisha, the funds are intended to construct water supply systems in 15 sub-counties and 8 Town Councils in Isingiro district.

He adds that the funding is a fulfilment of part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 2019 between France and Uganda to improve water supply in Kampala and South Western Uganda.

Mugisha said that the project when completed, will address the water supply challenges in districts of Isingiro, Mbarara, Masaka and the surrounding areas.

“Congratulations to NWSC, this is a milestone and it should go a long way in addressing water stressed areas in Isingiro district,” says Mugisha.

The French Ambassador in his remarks said, AFD has committed more than 1billion Euros over the last 20 years with 200 Euros committed in 2018 alone in an effort to support Uganda’s sustainable and equitable development in water, sanitation, energy, environment and climate change, as well as strengthening the private sector.

Rivoal added that access to water and good sanitation is a major contribution to human development.

Speaking to Jeremiah Kamurari, the former Chairman Isingiro district, welcomed the project stressing that the district had never received any piped water in the area.

“All the other districts in Western Uganda have some water supplies either from national water or gravity but it has been only Isingiro where there is no single water supply scheme in the district,” Kamurari explained.

He is however worried that if the project is not monitored well, the money will be stolen by unscrupulous civil servants in the country.

“We have big worries always accompanied by bigger projects like this one. So, we expect that if there is no involvement of IGG, DPP and other related institutions, we are likely to have half of the money for the project swindled,” Kamurari emphasized.

He therefore appealed to the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to be part of the supervision such that, there is effective supervision to guarantee that the money will be put to proper use because of the rate of corruption that has ruined the country.

“Our call goes to the National Water and Sewerage Cooperation and Ministry of Water to ensure that there is constant supervision and monitoring to ensure that the money is put to its intended use. Even the local leaders in the area should be vigilant to ensure that this money is not squandered,” said Kamurari

According to Aaron Turahi, the current Chairman Isingiro district, the water project was contracted last month to BRL Ingeniere Company.

He appealed to the contractor to employ the locals so that they can also benefit from the project.

“We agreed that 70% should be our locals from Isingiro district who should be employed in non-technical works,” Turahi said.

https://thecooperator.news/cooperators-raise-alarm-over-bundibugyo-water-crisis/

He says the water project in the district is a fulfilment of the presidential pledge while he was last campaigning in Isingiro.

“This does not just come to us but it was the president who promised water to the people of Isingiro. And it will basically be used for irrigation, production and animal feeding where we shall no longer register death of people’s animals because of drought as you have always seen during the dry spell,” LC V Boss explained.

My role is to welcome each and every project that is coming in the district and to see that there must be a sustainability of that project, added Turahi.

He also encouraged proper monitoring for quality water project in the district.

“As a district we are involved and we shall ensure that the project is done successfully because we are the overall supervisors and monitors of the project in the district. And whoever comes here to do shoddy work, we shall deal with him because we are already served with bills of quantities,” Turahi said.

The water project in Isingiro will be implemented in line with Uganda’s vision 2040 which highlights access to clean piped water for all and the National Development Plan.

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Huawei donates PPEs to Nwoya district

NWOYA – Telecommunication company, Huawei have donated assorted Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) to Nwoya district as it struggles to overcome the fight against the contagious Covid19.

Some of the items donated include; 600 litres of hand sanitizers, 600 litres of liquid soap, 50 boxes of surgical face masks, 50 boxes of disposable gloves, 300 pieces of face shields and 30 temperature guns.

Currently, the prevalence rate of Covid-19 in the district is at 80% with Anaka and Alero trading centers listed as the most contagious and affected areas.

Speaking during the handover of the assorted PPEs at the district headquarters over the weekend, Judith Acan Peace, the Nwoya district Woman MP who lobbied for the items and Richard Todwong, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretary General said, she has observed that, most times , it’s the Community Health Workers especially Village Health Teams (VHTs) and Local Councilors (LCs) who don’t have the required PPEs for their protection.

Acan blamed the surging numbers of positive cases on truck drivers, reluctance by the community members to adhere to the stipulated Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and the fact that many people whose relatives are diagnosed with the disease tend to go and hide in the villages which has also led to the surge in positive cases in the district.

Richard Todwong said the donations were timely especially at the time when the President identified it as one of the 9 districts that has registered an increase in Covid-19 cases.

Todwong also tasked the district and local leaders to sensitize the public on the dangers of Covid-19 but also rally them to get vaccinated against the contagion.

According to Todwong, the increasing cases of infections are due to the exposure of the community members to travelers destined for either DRC or South Sudan.

Todwong also noted that the district has numerous commercial farmers who often transport workers from the various parts of the country and could either be positive or exposed to the virus, a factor which has led to the surge in positive Covid-19 cases.

“You know, Nwoya district is home to several large commercial farms which recruit people from very many parts of the country and the world generally and their exposure to Covid-19 could be among the major drivers to the increase in the positive cases.”

“Truck drivers who are destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan are very reckless with their lifestyles. They at most times interacting with the community members especially those in the major trading centres along the Karuma- Pakwach highway, another factor that is seemingly leading to the surge in positive cases, “Todwong noted.

Janet Oola, the Nwoya District Health Officer (DHO) says that, they were already struggling to reach out to the community due to limited PPEs, especially for the health workers.

https://thecooperator.news/minister-to-follow-up-with-mglsg-on-city-dwellers-who-missed-the-covid19-relief-funds/

Oola further says that, the priority will now be the community-based health assistants, the VHTs and Local Council Chairpersons because they interact the most with the community members.

“We were already struggling to access the people in the community because of lack of the PPEs for the health workers and the VHTs. At some point early this year, they complained thinking they were being neglected but it’s because we didn’t have the PPEs. Now that we have received these PPEs, we will first prioritize the VHTs, LCs and also our frontline workers,” said Oola.

Last week, Nwoya district had 55 cases under home based care with 5 deaths since the contagion was confirmed in the country in March last year.

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Lira district offers UIA 300 acres of land to build an industrial park

LIRA – Lira District Local Government has offered 300 acres of land that was formerly Aler farm, in Ngetta sub-county, to Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to build an industrial park.

The Lira district LC5 Chairperson, Richard Cox Okello Orik handed over the land to the State Minister for Investment, Everlyn Anite after convincing the farming community of the opportunities coming with the investment.

Since 2011, there has been an ongoing dispute between the district and the farming community over the ownership of a 1,500 acres piece of land.

About 332 residents challenged the district in court over the land located 10km along Lira-Kitgum road. The land covers 10 villages in Ngetta, Ogur and Alito in Kole district.

The villages according to the community include; Te-Arie, Oribcing, Opimo, Te-Dam, Okii, Aler, Perac, Atira, Acan-Akwo and Akwara.

The handover was witnessed by Lango Parliamentary Group, the City Mayor and the Business Community.

The Minister of Health, Dr Jane Aceng who is also Lira City woman MP were among dignitaries in attendance.

“The previous councils resolved to offer 300 acres to UIA and my role as the new Chairperson is to hand it over,” Okello says.

“We shall offer more 200 to make 500 depending on how they start utilizing the one we have donated,” Okello adds.

Anite is currently traversing the country to secure land to set up 25 industrial parks with a target of creating jobs, identifying accessible land for investment, and introducing new research technologies besides skills development to boost Uganda`s export and increased revenue base.

James Obong, a resident said, they realized the land belongs to the Lira District Local Government and they found no merit to continue with the court process.

“We are happy that the UIA is coming and it will be a good opportunity for us,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/nebbi-community-offers-500-acres-of-land-to-uia-for-the-construction-of-an-industrial-park/

Minister Anite pledged government’s support for the establishment of an industrial park which in turn will provide employment opportunities to people in the Lango sub-region and Uganda at large.

“We have not come to take away your land. Your land will remain here but we shall use it to improve your well-being,” she said.

Minister Dr Aceng pledged to construct a health center in the area as a reward to the community for allowing the investment.

Meanwhile, Dokolo district has added more 300 acres of land on the 200 they offered to UIA last month.

According to the district LC5, James Otto, they added more because they are looking at tangible investment and job creation.

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Nebbi community offers 500 acres of land to UIA for the construction of an Industrial park

Nebbi – More than 500 acres of lands located along Pakwach-Nebbi road has been offered to Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) by the community of Omvuro Village, in Mbaro East in Nyaravur-Angal Town Council, Nebbi district in support of the construction of an industrial park.

The communities are optimistic that in the future, the land given will be one of the legacies that the community members have shown commitment towards bringing development to the younger generation to fight poverty.

The land given by the community members is free from wetlands and geographically located along the business hub with both water and electricity which will spur development and provide employment to youths.

https://thecooperator.news/government-to-construct-25-industrial-parks-to-boost-industrialization/

According to Caesar Ocakere, a community member who offered the land, for many years, their children failed to complete education, but if such an opportunity comes in their hands, their children will benefit through local employment.

The woman Member of Parliament for Nebbi district, Agnes Acibu urged parents to spend much money on skilling the youths in order to tap any development that will come as a result of the industrial park in the district.

She added that, the President says, the youths’ futures must be secured through job creation and that’s why the industrial park is being constructed in Nebbi to create more jobs among the youths.

“Our youths are at a certain level of education but they are un-employed meaning that if such opportunity for an industrial park comes, they will definitely get jobs to sustain their livelihoods,” Acibu said.

The State Minister for Finance, Planning and Economics Development, Hon Everlyn Anite says, due to the influx of Congolese, there is big business potential if the industrial park is fully constructed.

She added that the responsible ministry will not bring poverty to the community but bring in development by employing youths in the factories as one of economic drivers to alleviate poverty.

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Nebbi, Abak Robert said, there will be no need to outsource employees outside the district if the youths are trained to manage the machines locally.

He adds that the industrial park will therefore boost commercialization of cassava production since there is going to be value addition because cassava has its ready market and is a raw material for brewing alcohol.

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ICYD project to partner with TASO in Soroti District

SOROTI – The Integrated Child and Youth Development (ICYD) project, will partner with The Aids Support Organization (TASO) in Soroti.

The partnership is meant to support Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in 10 sub-counties of Soroti District Local Government (SDLG).

The partnership is to enhance the work of TASO in the region with HIV/AIDS infected children and their families to access better health care services.

https://thecooperator.news/us-government-earmarks-35-million-for-hiv-management-in-acholi-as-infection-rate-doubles/

TASO Regional Office, Soroti welcomed the partnership as supplementary efforts in ending HIV/AIDS epidemic and added effort to support the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program in the region.

The transition took place during a meeting at the District Lukiiko Council Hall, where TASO handed over only the OVC related components of their activities to ICYD.

Gilbert Obore, the Technical Advisor Community Systems Strengthening TASO stated that, some of the target beneficiaries that the ICYD project will target include; Children living with HIV/AIDS; HIV Exposed Infants, Children of female sex workers and children of non-suppressed Viral Load care takers.

Obore emphasized that ICYD was coming in to boost efforts in regards to OVC programming as part of the U.S Presidents Emergency Plan- for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) guidance to transition OVC programming from Center for Disease Control (CDC) USAID; while TASO will remain offering comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services through health systems strengthening approach in the region.

Meanwhile, Hussein Rehema, the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator for – ICYD thanked the district leadership for ensuring that the community was happy with the services offered by TASO in accelerating epidemic control in Soroti region.

Hussein says, ICYD – OVC is a five-year PEPFAR/USIAD grant which delivers basic education to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) and youths by strengthening young people’s ability to critically engage with their environment to address the health and safety needs and make it more likely to reach their potential.

Currently ICYD operates through local partnership to deliver comprehensive OVC programming in 29 districts of Uganda and in year two, ICYD programming will expand to 44 districts.

The activities have three main objectives including; Ensuring that children and youths have improved learning outcomes, children and youths are protected (safety), health in homes, communities and, the youth practice positive behaviors and make informed decisions about their life and relationships.

Abraham Ekwaru, the Soroti district Communications Officer commended TASO saying, they have been doing good work with OVCs and they are the best in HIV programming.

“God should reward TASO team abundantly, because your work is based on tangible evidence, and we don’t take that lightly as the government,” he said.

Ekwaru says, with the coming of ICYD, they are welcoming them with two hands and are ready to give any support that they may require to enable them carry out their work in Soroti despite the challenge of fitting into what TASO has done in Uganda.

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Minister intervenes in a family land conflict that stalled an oil road project

KIKUUBE – The State Minister for Works, Fred Byamukama, has intervened in a land conflict that has stalled the construction works of 25.7km Kabaale-Kiziranfumbi critical oil road project in Kikuube district.

Kabaale-Kiziranfumbi is one of the critical oil roads such as Masindi-Biiso 54km, Hohwa-Nyairongo-Kyarushesha-Butole-25km.

In 2019, China Railway Seventh Group was contracted to upgrade them to tarmac. The three years project was projected to cost the government Shs 500billion.

The minister’s intervention follows a petition from the Kikuube Woman MP, Florence Natumanya following a compensation dispute arising from land ownership in one family.

The road stalled for more than two years after the wives of the late Rajab Turyamureba in Kyarwensambya village in Kiziranfumbi town council failed to agree on who should be compensated.

According to the Omuhereza Asiimwe Butamanya, the father to the deceased, his son who died in 2017 left behind a house in Kyarwensambya village which was affected by the road construction works.

After death, the deceased’s wives, Justine Nsimiire Nalongo, a mother of three children and the second wife, Sylvia Twijukye started fighting over the house.

As a result, the contractor had started constructing the road but when he reached the contested house, he could not proceed with works since it was pending compensation.

According to the Omuhereza Asiimwe, Twijukye, who was working in the deceased’s clinic claimed ownership of the contested house and started demanding compensation money.

He told the Minister that, Twijukye who claimed to be second wife forged a document of ownership of the land and claimed that she was a wife to the deceased, yet the family knew her as an employee of their son.

The deceased’s family together with Nsimiire Nalongo (known wife) protested the claims of Twijukye and petitioned several offices which included justice centers, Office of the RDC Kikuube and area MPS.

All these offices attempted to resolve the matter but failed after most of the resolution favored the Nalongo.

The conflict forced Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to put on halt the compensation of the house after Twijukye went to court seeking justice.

However, Minister Byamukama and other local leaders who included area MP, LCV boss, Peter Banura held a meeting with the conflicting parties at the Office of the Kikuube RDC, Amlan Tumusiime and resolved the impasse.

During the meeting, it was agreed that out of Shs 21.4 million which was valued in the contested house, the second wife (Twijukye) will be given Shs 5milion while the first wife and her children will take over Shs 16m.

Minister Byamukama commended the family for accepting to settle the conflict and challenged the second wife, Twijukye to withdraw the court case to allow UNRA to pay their compensation for the road construction project to resume.

RDC Tumusiime and Peter Banura, the Kikuube district boss blamed the conflict on greedy leaders, UNRA officials and Lawyers who have been misleading the family over this matter.

According to them, several offices attempted to settle the matter but some selfish groups who thought the compensation of the house was about Shs 200 million have been taking the family off truck with the intention of making money from the conflict.

They commended the Minister for his intervention adding that they have hope that the road project construction will soon resume after settling the matter.

MP Florence Natumanya says, there are several other issues related to compensation under this road construction project that needs to be addressed.

She noted some people have been left uncompensated and others were left without access roads to their houses.

Natumanya also complained of dumping sites which are situated near people’s houses adding that soon they may turn into death traps.

Juliet Oyera, Head of Land Acquisition at UNRA said that 90% of the persons affected by the road construction project have been compensated adding that the remaining 10% have issues of ownership.

https://thecooperator.news/businessman-arrested-for-oil-roads-fuel-theft/

She commended the leaders and the Minister for resolving the matter adding that once the family makes a consent agreement, UNRA will pay the compensation money to the family.

The widow, Nsimiire Nalongo and her father in-law Butamanya expressed gratitude about the resolution saying that children of the deceased have received justice.

However, when asked to comment about the resolution, Twijukye, the second wife, refused to talk to the media.

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Museveni castigates court on Ekalungar murder case

ENTEBBE – President Yoweri Museveni has castigated the Courts of Law for what he called a lenient sentence in the murder case of Francis Ekarungar.

Museveni says, the sentence of life imprisonment given to Mawa Muzamir, who took lead in the murder of the accountant is very lenient and a source of provocation.

Museveni also protested the continued court resolution to grant bail to suspects in murder cases, challenging the position of making bail a right.

“Bail is not a constitutional right and must not be used to provoke the public. For somebody to kill a person and you give them bail is provocation. It is abominable.” Museveni said.

Museveni, who was speaking at a function at State House Entebbe in which six new judges, Inspector General of Government, Beti Namisango Kamya and her deputy were sworn in, also revealed that the State will appeal in the Ekarungar judgment, pushing for a death sentence for the convict.

Museveni said, someone taking another person’s life and you just let him be in prison for life instead of death is mean.

“These people conspired to kill the accountant, and one was given a life sentence, was the one they killed given a chance to live? Was death sentence abolished? The Case Clinic case will be appealed,” he stressed.

Court sentenced Mawa Muzamiru to life imprisonment for the murder of Francis Ekarungar, an accountant with Case Clinic in Kampala, while his accomplices including his wife Resty Nalunga, Huzairu Kiwalabye and Yiga Deo were sentenced to 5, 25 and 7 years of imprisonment respectively.

President Museveni said the judiciary needs to work on the ideological gap, where bail is granted to murder suspects when even the victim’s relatives are still grieving.

“This bail, what is the hurry? Who are you trying to please? Who said bail is a right? It is not in the Constitution. We are going to work on this,” Museveni said.

The President insisted that the Judiciary needs to address the ideological difference during judgements especially on criminal matters to have justice to the victims, avoid the growth of impunity but also to keep the judiciary relevant in the communities.

Citing a case of Christine Akello, a 43-year-old who was brutally murdered by her husband, Denis Alal in Lira City, although Alal would also later be killed by the mob using the very machete he had earlier used to kill his wife.

Museveni says these are signs that the public have lost trust in the judiciary.

https://thecooperator.news/minister-ogwang-orders-for-arrest-of-corrupt-district-officials/

The six new judges sworn in included; Justices Tweyanze Lawrence Gashirabake Christopher, Chemutai Tom, Alice Komuhangi, Nakacwa Florence, and Justice Wagona Vincent.

Also, the Inspector General of Government, Beti Kamya and Deputies Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria and Ms. Ann Twinomugisha Muhairwe took oath of office at the same event.

The President warned the new office bearers at the IGG’s office of high levels of infiltration, that has facilitated corruption to take a deep root frustrating service delivery.

“Your offices are infiltrated that you should start by cleaning it up and link with the public to collect vital information. Be patient and connect with local people, but do not frustrate whistle blowers,” Museveni added.

The Deputy Chief Justice, Richard Buteera, commended the government for enhancing the budget of the judiciary, a move he says would enable them draw justice closer to the people.

“This increment will enable us go a long way in bringing justice nearer to the people of Uganda. Our dream, in the medium term, is to bring justice to all the people of Uganda within a walkable distance,” Butera said.

The Budgetary allocation of the judicially was increased from Shs. 196 billion in the financial year 2020/2021 to a whopping Shs. 357 billion in the financial 2021/2022.

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Minister Ogwang orders for arrest of corrupt district officials

KIKUUBE – Several civil servants in Kikuube district were made to sweat as the Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, Peter Ogwang questioned them for allegedly messing up several government projects.

Ogwang together with Jenipher Kacha Namuyangu, the State Minister for Bunyoro Affairs stormed Kikuube district and had an engagement with the district leaders and civil servants before moving to the field to check on the projects.

The ministers were shocked by the corruption tendencies that crippled World Bank-funded projects, Development Response to Displacement Impact Projects [DRDIP], Agriculture Cluster Development Projects [ACDP], and Covid19 funds among others mismanaged, swindled, or underutilized.

This has resulted in shoddy work and in other extreme cases, no work done at all.

This forced the Minister to direct Kikuube District Police Commander [DPC], Wilson Nabangi to arrest and get statements from the implicated officials.

The officials include; the District Engineer, Emma Arinaitwe, Water Engineer, Hillary Agondeze, and the former Chief Administrative Officer [CAO]Robert Murondo, Nicolas Kwikiriza, the District Health Officer [DHO], Flavia Nabwire, the Officer in Charge of DRDIP projects, Julian Kusiima among others.

Ogwang ordered that Murondo be returned from Kariro district, where is currently working to Kikuube district to make a statement with police for allegedly diverting startup funds worth Shs1.2 billion.

It is alleged in 2018, Kikuube district received Shs 1.2 billion from the Ministry of Local Government to construct the district administration block and equip it with furniture but the money was diverted to other things which were not in the guideline.

According to the information the money was used to buy 10 acres of land at a cost of Shs270 million, two double cabin vehicles at the cost of Shs400 million, construction of police structures at cost of Shs80million and also painting of the former Kiziramfumbi Sub County headquarters, that are now being used to house the district headquarters at cost of Shs150 million.

Meanwhile, Emma Arinaitwe was also ordered to make statements at police over his failure to supervise work on several projects such as the construction roads like Kabwoya- Rwetahi road, which was found with several concerns.

According to the findings, the road which cost Shs70 million was only 9.5 kilometres but in the documents, the road was supposed to be 11 kilometres.

In the document, the road was supposed to be 7metres wide but on ground it was only 5.4 metres.

This road was meant to have a murram, according to the Bill of Quantities [BOQ] but on ground, the murram was missing yet the documents indicated that it was completed and commissioned.

Engineer Arinaitwe and Julian Kusiima were questioned about the Shs1.8 billion Nyairongo Seed Project.

This is after the ministers found the project incomplete with several defects, yet the contractor, Quick Builder Construction Company was paid 95 percent of the money.

The other official who is on the spot is the Water Engineer, Hillary Agondeze who is being investigated for doing shoddy work on the Kigozi shallow well at a cost of Shs5million in Kiziranfumbi town council.

This well was completed in June 2021 but it has no flowing water and residents are said to have provided materials for its construction although the government had released funds for its construction.

The District Health Officer [DHO], Nicholas Kwikiriza was also on the spot after allegedly failing to pay the Village Health Teams [VHTs] per village Shs300, 000 as the government had allocated and directed.

Kwikiriza was accused of not following the guideline as he paid the VHTs per month, yet the money is supposed to be paid once. It was discovered that Kwikiriza is keeping the money in a bank with the intention to accumulate interest.

Ministers Ogwang and Namuyangu warned police against mismanaging the files of the officers, adding that the officers must be produced in court to answer the charges of corruption and neglect of their duties.

He noted that these officers have made the government lose a lot of money that would help to deliver services to local people.

Minister Ogwang, also directed forensic audit in the implementation of DRDIP project in Bunyoro region, adding that the project has a lot of issues.

“I will be a bad person to the corrupt but will be a good person to those who want this country to develop. I want to challenge you the corrupt that your days are numbered. You either accept to do what is within the law of the country in line with the public finance management act or resign,” said Ogwang.

Minister Namuyangu, commended Minister Ogwang on the exercise; adding that there are a lot of rots in all districts in the region that needs to be addressed and promised to continue following up on the issues.

Amlan Tumusiime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner [RDC], and Peter Banura, the Kikuube District LCV boss said that such monitoring exercises help the government to realize gaps in service delivery, corruption and improves service delivery.

They appealed to the central government to at least have such kind of exercise of monitoring every financial year to complement the district’s efforts in supervising and monitoring government projects to ensure good service delivery.

Steven Asera Itaza, MP Buhaguzi East constituency, expressed concern that the government has lost billions of shillings to corrupt officials because district leaders are undermined by corrupt officials and called on the government to continue supporting district leaders to oversee service delivery.

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