The Ministry of Water and Environment has dismissed recent media reports alleging that Kabale District failed to refund UGX 50 million meant for livelihood support under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Project.
Over the weekend, several media outlets published claims suggesting that the Ministry had directed Kabale District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), John Asiimwe, to return funds initially disbursed under the “Building Resilient Communities, Wetland Ecosystems, and Associated Catchments” initiative.
These reports were based on a letter signed by Joseph Ongol on behalf of the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, addressed to the Kabale CAO and copied to the Resident District Commissioner of Mitooma District.
However, speaking during a Kabale District Technical Planning Committee meeting held at Rukiiko Hall on Monday, Bruce Amanya, Wetland Restoration, Monitoring, and Evaluation Officer for the GCF Project, clarified that the letter in question was a routine circular sent to all 24 districts involved in the project.
The directive instructed Chief Administrative Officers to return any unspent project balances, not singling out Kabale District.
Amanya emphasized that Kabale District had fully utilized all its allocated funds for 2024. The Ministry had received and verified accountability reports confirming that no balances remained unspent. He questioned how a general directive could be misinterpreted as a specific reprimand against Kabale.
Addressing the UGX 50 million originally earmarked for livelihood support, Amanya explained that the funds were reallocated following a fatal drowning incident in Rukiga District. On instruction from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), participating districts redirected the funds to enhance safety by fencing water retention facilities. In Kabale, this included fencing a facility in Buhara Sub-county.
Amanya criticized the media for failing to verify facts with relevant stakeholders before publishing the story and suggested that internal departmental disputes may have contributed to the misinformation.
He further revealed that the GCF Project focal person in Kabale changed in late 2023, from Evas Asiimwe, the Senior Environment Officer, to Henry Tumwesigye, the District Natural Resources Officer. He speculated that the transition may have caused friction and confusion, potentially leading to the spread of inaccurate information.
Amanya also clarified that Kabale District’s role in the GCF project is limited to identifying contractors, while the funds are managed and disbursed directly by the Ministry and its partners significantly reducing the risk of misappropriation.
Henry Tumwesigye, the current project focal person, affirmed Kabale’s strong performance in implementing GCF activities. He confirmed that the reallocation of the UGX 50 million was done in consultation with both UNDP and the Ministry, based on a risk assessment of unfenced water retention facilities. Monitoring visits by both institutions validated the execution of the fencing projects.
Tumwesigye also expressed concern that some of his support staff may have unintentionally provided misleading information to the media, contributing to the public confusion.
He further clarified that the district’s role in the GCF project is limited to identifying contractors. Funds for livelihood projects are managed and disbursed directly, minimizing the possibility of misappropriation.
Tumwesigye affirmed that Kabale District is among the best-performing districts in implementing the GCF project.
He confirmed that the reallocation of the UGX 50 million was done in consultation with UNDP and the Ministry, following a risk assessment of unfenced water retention facilities. Monitoring visits by both agencies verified the implementation of the fencing projects.
Tumwesigye also expressed concern that some members of his support staff may have provided inaccurate information to the media, contributing to the confusion.
