Ministry of Local Government takes control of 1.48B Shilling Wetland Evacuation Project in Kabale Amid Fraud Allegations
The Ministry of Local Government, has taken over the procurement of livelihood support items worth 1.481 billion Shillings for 905 people voluntarily vacating wetlands in Kabale District, following allegations of fraud and mismanagement against some senior district officials.
The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ben Kumumanya, yesterday told our reporter that the ministry, wants to ensure that the persons affected by the wetlands restoration project, receive the items they were promised.
The new Kabale Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Ronald Mutegeki, also told this radio that he was directed by Kumumanya to replace the District Natural Resources Officer, Henry Tumwesigye with the District Senior Environment Officer, Evas Asiimwe, as the focal person for the Green Climate Fund wetlands restoration project.
Earlier this week, Mutegeki reinstated the District Water Officer, Patience Aharinta, and the District Senior Procurement Officer, Mercy Atuhaire, who had been interdicted by former CAO John Asiimwe, over allegations of mismanagement. Mutegeki said an internal investigation revealed that their interdictions were irregular.
Aharinta and Atuhaire claimed their interdictions were motivated by their refusal to comply with alleged demands from Asiimwe and the District Chairman, Nelson Nshangabasheija, to create fictitious water projects and flout procurement procedures, in order to misappropriate millions of Shillings in public funds. Asiimwe refuted the allegations, while Nshangabasheija has repeatedly declined to respond to them.
