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Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Dr. Patricia Achan, the Deputy Inspector of Government-IG on Friday discovered ghost projects established under the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project- DRDIP in Hoima District.
Achan is currently in the Bunyoro sub-region to monitor the progress of the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project- DRDDIP.
While supervising some of the projects, Achan noted that there are some ghost projects created by some leaders that have never been implemented at all.
She cited Kasenyi-Lyato wetland restoration project in Nyakabingo Parish Buseruka sub-county yet 50 million Shillings was injected into the project.
She further discovered a 65 million Shillings Runga Solar Powered lighting project in Kapaapi sub-county but has never been implemented. All these ghost projects were created in the 2021/2022 financial year.
She halted the implementation of all the ghost projects and ordered the Hoima Chief Administrative officer-CAO to recover the money injected into the projects.
Achan further faulted Hoima district leaders for failing to monitor and supervise the implementation of the project hence leading to its failure.
She said district leaders need to routinely monitor and hold meetings with the beneficiaries to find out the challenges they are facing during the implementation of the project.
She further tasked district leaders to ensure that value for money is realized in the project by ensuring proper accountability and transparency during the implementation of the world bank funded Project.
Dr. Charles Kajura, the focal person for DRDIP in Hoima said since the inception of the project in the district in 2018, they have received 19 billion Shillings that had been disbursed to 341 groups in the district.
Charles Oluba Kumakech, the Hoima Chief Administrative Officer-CAO said DRDIP had played a pivotal role in the area of infrastructural development. He said several roads, health facilities, and schools have been constructed.
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There are no ghost projects under DRDIP in Hoima District. This story appears to be written with false facts and a negative slant intended to discredit the project. The Deputy IG never said there were “ghost projects” – words that are attributed to her in this article when she recently visited Hoima during a monitoring activity. The writer should revisit the meaning of “ghost project.’ as commonly used in Uganda. A ghost project is one that is claimed or reported to exist when in fact it does not. The Deputy IG only spoke about the delayed start of certain projects under the second component of DRDIP. The word “ghost” was never used, however, the reporter has chosen to be disingenuous in order to create uncalled-for alarm and disrepute. to a Project that has delivered outstanding results in Hoima and all the 15 refugee hosting districts. It’s a pity that The Independent just picked up the story without verification of its veracity.