The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has arraigned four Butambala District officials before the Butambala Chief Magistrates Court on charges of theft of fuel and conspiracy to defraud government resources.
The accused are:
- Naigembe Jesica, Acting District Engineer
- Wandera Joseph, Chief Finance Officer
- Muwaga Fred, District Internal Auditor
- Kizito Charles Mukalazi, Driver with the Butambala District Local Government
They have been remanded until July 28, 2025.
The officials, together with Kayinga Geoffrey, the Acting District Water Officer who is currently on the run, are accused of misappropriating 80,000.86 litres of fuel worth Shs 431,447,400.
The fuel was intended for road maintenance works under the Shs 1 billion Road Maintenance Grant for the financial year 2023/2024.
Investigations revealed that Engineers Naigembe and Kayinga inflated fuel estimates for road projects, irregularly withdrew the excess, and diverted it to private individuals or unapproved purposes.
To conceal the fraud, they allegedly colluded with fuel station managers to falsify accountability records, claiming the fuel was issued to district drivers, claims which the drivers later denied.
Finance Officer Wandera and Auditor Muwaga are accused of failing in their supervisory roles and reportedly benefited from the fuel scam by also consuming fuel meant for public works.
The Anti-Corruption Unit continues to pursue Kayinga Geoffrey as investigations progress.
