The Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, has referred 16 Rubanda District Local Government staff to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for investigation over allegations of causing financial loss to the government.
The officials include District Education Officer Francis Serununi, District Engineer John Habimana, District Procurement Officer Medard Katabaazi, District Agricultural Officer Mwebesa, former District Engineer Denis Twesigomwe and Human Resource Officer Pamela Kanyesigye, among others.
The officials were named by a lawyer from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit during an accountability and anti-corruption rally at Rubanda District Council.
Presenting the findings on Saturday, Minister Barugahara alleged that in September 2024, the district Chief Administrative Officer paid Kosovo Construction and Supplies Company Limited Shs50 million under LOP 853 for the supply of marrum for the Kashasha-Ihunga road, despite the project having already been paid for by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC).
He said the marrum was never supplied, raising questions about the expenditure.
The current Chief Administrative Officer, Samuel Ahabwe, distanced himself from the transaction, saying he had not yet been deployed in the district at the time. He referred the matter to the district internal auditor for further scrutiny.
Barugahara also questioned the whereabouts of Shs700,000 released for fuel under LOP 850 during the same period for the road project, which he said had also been fully paid for by IFDC.
The minister further raised concerns over Shs67 million allegedly received by District Agricultural Officer Ronald Mwebesa Mugumya during the 2024/2025 financial year for activities that were reportedly not implemented.
He said that on December 8, 2025, Ahabwe directed Mwebesa to account for the funds, but the officer allegedly declined, prompting an internal audit by Osbert Arinda to establish how the money had been spent.
According to Barugahara, the audit established alleged wasteful expenditure of Shs24 million on fuel for work that was not done, as well as the use of an unauthorised personalised vehicle that consumed fuel worth Shs4.4 million.
The minister also alleged that Mwebesa used receipts purportedly obtained from Voice of Kigezi and Volcano Hotel in Rubanda Town Council, which were still undergoing verification.
He added that Mwebesa had since absconded from duty and declined summons to account for the funds.
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Barugahara also ordered the arrest of former District Engineer Denis Twesigomwe over alleged shoddy work and possible misuse of public funds in the construction of the Shs85 million Bugiri Crossing Bridge in Kakore Parish, Hamurwa Sub-county.
The minister questioned the quality and durability of the bridge, warning that it could be washed away during heavy rains.
He pointed to cracks in the concrete and poorly bonded stones, raising concerns about the materials and workmanship used in the project.
“I do not even need a concrete tester because there is no concrete. They used poor materials, and the cement concentration is minimal. Look at these fresh sections; the stones appear as though they were fixed by hand. How do you mix concrete and leave the stones exposed?” Barugahara said.
He also pointed to soil that had accumulated along the bridge’s water channel, warning that the condition could expose the structure to damage during heavy rains.
The minister questioned whether the project had delivered value for money, given the Shs85 million allocated for its construction. He also challenged the reported need for an additional Shs100 million to work on the three-kilometre Kakore-Bugiri road, describing the proposed expenditure as questionable.
“These are bogus works. They should all be arrested,” Barugahara said, calling for accountability over the project.
The bridge connects Bugiri Primary School, Kakore Rugambwa Catholic Parish, Karukara Market and surrounding communities. It is expected to improve access to essential services and support social and economic activities in the area.
Twesigomwe has also been accused of overseeing shoddy work on Nfasha Bridge in Bufundi Sub-county.
In 2023, he was arrested alongside other regional officials by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit over allegations of abuse of office, embezzlement and causing financial loss in connection with construction projects, including Mpungu Health Centre III. He was later released on police bond.
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Meanwhile, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit proposed writing to the Inspector General of Police seeking the immediate transfer of Rubanda District Police Commander SP John Bosco Tumwebaze over reported negligence in the execution of his duties.
The proposal followed concerns raised by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Henry Musasizi Ariganyira, about what he described as laxity by police in investigating criminal cases and providing progress reports.
Minister Musasizi cited incidents in which several houses in the district had been burnt, but police had allegedly failed to provide clear investigation reports.
