By Solomon Hamala
IGANGA
The Iganga Chief Administrative Officer, (CAO) and five other top district Civil Servants have been arrested for alleged embezzlement of shillings 1.2 billion.
The six were arrested under the instructions of the State Minister for Economic Monitoring, Peter Ogwang after a two day tour of government projects within the district that concluded yesterday 24th Oct 2021.
Those arrested are the Chief Administrative Officer Iganga, David Kawooya, District Engineer Wilberforce Mbata, Assistant Engineer Allan Sebandeke, Municipal Education Officer Lydia Itaaga, and Chief Finance Officer Iganga, Joseph Tenywa.
Ogwang who was accompanied by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Iganga, Deborah Mwesigwa, Deputy Regional Police Commander Hajji Amuza Kayongo, District Police Commander Iganga, Kenneth Muheirwe was shocked to discover that most projects that had been implemented as reflected in the report given to him were just air.
He promised to continue carrying out routine abrupt visits to the district to monitor government projects besides seeking views from members of the public on the manner in which district officials conduct business.
“Am not here to witch-hunt anyone but just playing my role as the line minister to wipe out corruption,” he said.
Ogwang visited ten schools in Nakalama, Nawandala and Bulamagi sub counties and discovered that sign posts for the nutrition program that had been reflected to have been printed during the financial year 2019-2020 were still fresh with paint.
“After discovering that I was in the district they hurriedly rushed to print these sign posts to make me think that they are old,” he said.
He accused Community Development Officers (CDO) of demanding bribes from people who apply for funds under government programs saying they have made it difficult to make recoveries.
“Now the beneficiaries of these programs are failing to pay back the money just because a bigger percentage was taken away by the government officials,” he said.
Ogwang tasked the RDCs to arrest defaulters of the EMYOGA program saying the funds are meant to serve as a revolving fund.
“This money is meant to benefit all members in a group but some people are defaulting on payment,” he said.
By press time, the district officials were still making statements at Iganga Central Police Station.
The RDC Iganga, Deborah Mwesigwa said the tours by the minister in most parts of the country will help improve on service delivery by civil servants.
Mwesigwa said most government projects have stalled as a result of the rampant cases of corruption amongst district officials.
The LC 5 chairman Iganga, Ezra Gabula said the district was willing to cooperate with the minister ensure they wipe out corruption.
“I have no problem as long as corruption is being wiped out,” he said.
The Deputy Regional Police Commander Busoga East, Hajji Amuza Kayongo said investigations into the matter were still under way.
The district police commander Iganga, Kenneth Muheirwe promised to brief the media about the matter shortly after thorough investigations.
