The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kabale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Godfrey Nyakahuma, the Kabale Resident District Commissioner has asked the Chief Administrative Officer, to suspend funding to Ryakarimira town council citing allegations of embezzlement against the town clerk, Alex Ampeire. According to Nyakahuma, Ampeire who is currently on the run, is accused of embezzling Shillings 105 Million for the construction of a multipurpose hall.
The town council received the money in question from the government in the 2020-2021 financial year. Ampeire allegedly withdrew the money to pay the contractor in vain. According to Nyakahuma, they received a tip-off from a whistleblower late last month indicating that the contractor was planning to sue the town council and Kabale district local government, for the alleged failure to pay him after completing the work.
He explains that upon tasking Ampeire, he admitted having diverted the money for personal use. He says that they gave him seven days to return the money but he decided to run, which prompted him to write to the CAO to suspend the disbursement of Shillings 13.37 million in this second quarter to the town council. Shillings 8.88 million of the Shillings 13.36 million is non-wage and Shillings 4.48 million is meant for general development.
According to Nyakahuma, in addition to embezzling Shillings 105 million for the multipurpose hall, a forensic audit has also found that Ampeire secretly withdrew Shillings 249.28 million that was meant for various projects that include road works, remittance of 25 and 5 percent for local council I and IIs, development of the town council physical plan and construction of staff quarters among others.
Nyakahuma says that the suspension is aimed at paving way for thorough investigations into the financial scandal. He says that preliminary investigations indicate that there is a gross abuse of taxpayer’s money by Ampeire.
Fred Kalyesubula, the Kabale Chief Administrative Officer says that the suspension has been effected in accordance with Nyakahuma’s request to allow for the ongoing investigations. Kalyesubula says that he has also interdicted Ampeire and appointed his deputy, Frank Ainamamani as acting town clerk. Ampeire has not yet commented and he couldn’t be reached by our reporter.
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