Nine Masindi district local government officials are in trouble following an order by The State Minister for Economic Monitoring in the Office of President Peter Ogwang for allegedly executing shoddy works on government projects in the area.
The minister ordered for the arrest of John Kasaija, the Masindi municipal engineer, Deo Kabugo, the town clerk Masindi Municipality, Lameck Atugonza and his supervisor John Muhumuza.
The other officers are Alfred Onen, the District Water Officer, Geoffrey Nkurunziza, the former acting district Chief Administrative Officer-CAO, Patrick Okise, the district internal auditor, Godfrey Byarugaba, the district procurement officer and David Baguma, the Masindi chief financial officer.
Ogwang accused them of corruption and negligence of their duties by failing to supervise the construction of the government projects that led to shoddy works and loss of taxpayer’s money.
In particular, the Minister accuses Kasaija and Kabugo of failing to monitor the construction of Katasenywa Health Centre II in Nyangahya Division where the government injected 490 million shillings, but Ogwang says that there was no value for money.
He further faulted the Masindi District Engineer and his team for doing nothing despite shoddy works on Bulima town council administrative block, staff quarters at Kihagani Primary School, and Bwijanga health centre IV in Bwijanga Sub County.
Ogwang accuses the water officer of sanctioning full payment for the construction of four boreholes in the greater Kimengo sub-county which were never constructed.
Ogwang vowed to follow up on the matter and warned police against interfering with the cases.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Namuyangu, the State Minister for Bunyoro Affairs also wondered how civil servants could authorize payments of government money for no or shoddy works done.
Namuyangu tasked the community members to always demand accountability from the duty bearers whenever a government project is being undertaken in their area.
Cosmas Byaruhanga, the LCV Chairperson Masindi says the district political leadership refused to commission some of the projects after realizing that shoddy works were done on them.
Also, the Masindi District Police Commander Edinah Nyinareza pledged to summon the accused officers to Masindi Central Police Station to have them record statements on the accusations put against them.
