The Deputy Inspector General of Government Annie Muheirwe has orchestrated the apprehension of two engineers from Ntungamo district.
The pair was detained due to alleged financial misconduct linked to road funds, which consequently led to substandard road projects within the district.
The arrest of Charles Kusemererwa, who was acting as the district engineer, and Moses Twiine, the district roads force account manager, unfolded on Wednesday.
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Their inability to provide documented evidence of expenses and rationalize the poor quality of the roadworks during Muheirwe’s on-site inspection prompted their detainment.
Although Kusemererwa attempted to elucidate his recent assumption of office and the inherited predicament, his explanations were disregarded.
The deputy IG was infuriated by the audacity and haughtiness displayed by the district officials. These officials had been invited to participate in an assessment of the projects but declined to attend.
During the fiscal year 2021/2022, the district was allocated a sum of over 600 million shillings for the mechanized upkeep of the 25km Omungyenyi-Nyakambu-Omukarere-Kashanda road in Rushenyi county and the restoration of the 14km Kagarama-Rukarango-Rwamabondo road in Kajara county.
Regrettably, the local community voiced their discontentment with the substandard condition of the roadwork.
Muheirwe’s office detected instances of misappropriation in the funds allocated for the construction of the two roads, which resulted in inadequate execution of the projects.
Additionally, civil engineer Richard Kayima and district water engineer Prosper Butubura were summoned by Muheirwe for questioning by the Police.
Their absence during the road inspection, despite being in office during the project’s implementation, raised suspicions.
Nice Milly Nabaasa, the district woman councillor for Kagarama and Ihunga sub-counties, revealed that on September 8, 2022, leaders from greater Ihunga and Kibatsi sub-counties penned a letter to the Resident District Commissioner’s office, expressing dissatisfaction with the poor quality of the roadwork.
“The district obtained funding in December 2021, amounting to 212,752,000 shillings, designated for the road rehabilitation.
Construction commenced on December 22, 2021, but halted after limited progress in two months. This prompted our decision to lodge a formal complaint,” she elaborated.
Muheirwe and her investigative team are concurrently examining instances of corruption within the district. The findings of this investigation will be disclosed at Ntungamo district headquarters on Wednesday.
