Police have released on Bond, seven Kikuube district officials who were arrested for alleged corruption and abuse of office.
Flavia Nabwire, the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Emmy Arinaitwe, the District Engineer, Julian Kusiima, the Chief Finance Officer, Moses Irumba, the district internal officer and Nicholas Kwikiriza, the District Health Officer as well as Deogratius Byakagaba, the district Education officer and Hillary Agondeze, the district water Engineer were arrested on Wednesday on the orders of Peter Ogwang, the State Minister for Economic Monitoring in the Office of the President for corruption and negligence of duties.
According to Minister Ogwang, the officials failed to supervise the construction of the various government projects that led to shoddy works and loss of taxpayer’s money.
They allegedly connived and diverted 1.2 Billion Shillings meant for the construction of the Kikuube district headquarters in 2017. Out of the 1.2 billion shillings, the officials diverted 360 Million Shillings to procure two vehicles, 270 Million Shillings for procurement of land and the balance could not be accounted for by the officials.
The officials also allegedly renovated the old buildings that are currently accommodating the district headquarters instead of constructing new structures.
Ogwang, while monitoring the various government projects in the district, also discovered that at Nyairongo Seed School in Kabwoya Sub County, the classroom block that was constructed at 1.8 Billion Shillings had defects before it was commissioned yet the district officials had paid the contractor 98% of the money.
According to Julius Hakiza the Albertine region police spokesperson, the arrested district officials were released on Thursday evening after they recorded statements, but will be reporting to police as investigations into the alleged corruption and abuse of office cases put against them are ongoing.
