Mbarara city mayor, engineer accused of falsifying road works report

Mbarara, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mbarara city mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi and the city engineer, Merynah Kekijusyo are on the spot for falsifying the city road works report. Councilors are accusing the dou of presenting a false report to the works committee on Monday.

They reportedly claimed in the report that they worked on Asuman Matovu road measuring 0.75 Kilometers, which cost Shillings 29.9 Million, and Butagasti-Kyarwabuganda road measuring 2.2 Kilometers at Shillings 105.4 Million, which is false.

During his state of the City Address to the council in May, Kakyebezi said that some roads including Butagatsi- Kyarwabuganda road were worked on and completed using Road Fund. Mbarara City received Shillings 575million of the Shillings 1.2 billion budgeted to work on eight roads, which Kakyebezi said had greatly affected the performance of the routine mechanized maintenance of the roads.

However, the councilors accuse the Mayor of giving a false report noting that the two roads were never worked on. Godfrey Baryomunsi, the Kakiika ward councilor where the road is said they have never seen any tractor working on the road since the engineer told them that she had submitted a request for them from the regional works yard.

Ben Twahirwa, the worker’s representative, demanded a refund of the money purportedly spent on the roads that are not reflected in any report despite being presented to the works committee.

Jemimah Kyomuhendo, the city youth councilor, demanded to know whether the same roads have been financed this financial year since the money was released and spent without any work on the grounds.

Eunice Aiimwe, the chairperson of the Works Committee, says that his committee has a challenge in monitoring city projects because they are never taken there.

Betty Tigefeera, the city elder’s representative wants the works department investigated especially on the road works.

Richard Mugisha, the Mbarara City Deputy Clerk, says that there was an error in typing and insists that the roads in question were worked on.

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