The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Bukwo LC V chairperson Julius Chelimo has promised to kick corruption out of the district
Bukwo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Four Bukwo district officials are reportedly on the run after being summoned to record police statements for allegedly creating ghost NUSAF 3 projects leading to a loss of Shillings 700 million. The affected officials are Jonah Chewere, the NUSAF desk officer, Stephen Sikor Mella, the acting human resource officer, Dismas Sande, the Production Officer and Education Officer Alfred Sokuton.
The four officers were expected to appear at Bukwo central police station on Tuesday in vain. None of them has appeared at their offices since then. Patricia Chemonges, a resident of Amanang sub-county in Bukwo district told URN that she went to the sub-county offices to renew her license, but there was nobody to attend to her.
“The office of the sub county chief and the accountant of Amanang were all closed from yesterday up to date, but am told they have gone away because the police want them,” she said. Joel Chemusto, another resident hailed the district chairperson and the office of the RDC for bringing the officials to order.
“These people have messed up with public funds and nobody could follow up. But we are happy with the current RDC. He has shaken everybody in the district,” he said. Samuel Hashaka Mpimbaza, the Bukwo Resident District Commissioner has confirmed the disappearance of the four key officials wanted in connection to the creation of ghosts NUSAF 3 projects.
Samson Lubega, the Bukwo District Police Commander says that the decision by the officers to flee only worsens matters. “The law is everywhere in Uganda. If it’s true they have run away, the law will catch up with them,” he said. The newly elected Bukwo LC V chairperson Julius Chelimo and RDC unearthed the ghost projects during their monitoring visit last week.
Some of the ghost projects include Lamaywet community access road in Suam sub-county, which costed Shillings 61,749,000, the Suam community access road in Suam sub-county worth Shillings 60million, Chepsoukei mini irrigation in Amanang sub-county worth Shillings 70 million and Roron mini irrigation project in Senendet sub-county that costed Shillings 49 million. None of the projects can be traced on the ground.
The others are Kongta mini irrigation project in Bukwo sub-county which cost Shillings 49million, the Green valley mini irrigation scheme in Amanang sub-county worth Shillings 50 million, Mokoywet mini irrigation scheme in Amanang sub-county worth Shillings 57 million and Brim mini irrigation scheme in Riwo sub-county worth Shillings 61,751,175 but are none existent.
Bukwo LC V chairperson Julius Chelimo has promised to kick corruption out of the district. “If they were embezzling public funds during the previous regime, it will not happen in my regime. I will not be a friend to corruption,” he said.
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