The Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, has referred a list of 41 officials from Kabale District Local Government and Kabale Municipality to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for investigation over allegations of corruption, nepotism, abuse of office and mismanagement of public funds.
The names were revealed by an official from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit during an accountability and anti-corruption rally held at Kabale Municipal Stadium on Friday which attracted thousands of residents as the government campaign entered its second day in the Kigezi Sub-region.
The list comprises 36 officials from Kabale District Local Government and five from Kabale Municipality.
Among those named from the district are former Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) John Asiimwe, Chief Finance Officer Amon Akampumuza, District Education Officer Moses Tumwijukye Bwengye, Natural Resources Officer Henry Tumwesigye and Principal Human Resource Officer Tushabomwe Jacenta.
Others include Senior ICT Officer Tobias Habaasa, District Engineer Januario Bagamuhunda, Senior Human Resource Officer Bright Akampurira, Procurement Officer Alex Turinawe, Assistant Engineer for Water Barham Akanyijuka and District Biostatistician Benon Kwitonda.
The list also includes Senior Assistant Mechanical Engineer Jude Tusiime, Senior Assistant Secretary and Clerk to Council Loyce Asiimwe, Conservation Officer Grace Aheise, District Accountant Adison Fat Biryomumeisho, former Buranga Primary School teacher Phionah Orishaba and Inspector of Schools Drake Kisheija.
Other district officials named are Parish Chief and Works Department office attendant Gergina Karungi, Assistant Secretary Edith Tukamushaba, Senior Assistant Secretary at Katuna Town Council Enos Akandinda, Acting Senior Accountant Collins Ainembabazi and Internal Auditor Denis Maviri.
Also named are District Senior Forestry Officer Benjamin Ariyo, Principal Town Agent at Katuna Barbara Atuheire, Acting Assistant Town Clerk Kevin Ainebyoona, Forestry Officer Boaz Niwarimpa, Inspector of Schools Turinawe C., Senior Assistant at Kibuga Town Council Milton Rwamastone and Principal Inspector of Schools Wilberforce Nabaasa.
The remaining district officials are Staff Surveyor Prosper Ahimbisibwe, Environmental Officer Allan Akampurira, District Production Officer Beda Mwebesa, Principal Agricultural Officer Deus Baguma, District Agricultural Engineer Paulino Ndyabanoha, Senior Engineer Levi Turyahikayo and Rubaya Sub-county Chief Ivan Mugayehwenki.
From Kabale Municipality, the officials named are former Town Clerk Jamail Kasajja, who has since been transferred to Kasese, Deputy Town Clerk Sunday Eric, Assistant Town Clerk for Northern Division Hilder Kashemeire, Assistant Town Engineering Officer Vincent Ahimbisibwe and Senior Internal Auditor Mwesigwa Kabweno.
The development comes amid concerns over the absence of several staff members and heads of departments who reportedly failed to attend the meeting despite having been invited by Kabale District Chief Administrative Officer Robert Mugabe.
During the rally, Barugahara accused District Senior Forestry Officer Benjamin Ariyo of allegedly arresting residents and destroying their property.
Minister Barugahara also claimed that some of the implicated officials had been on the run for several weeks, adding that he had summoned them to appear physically but they had failed to honour the summons.
Barugahara directed Kabale District LC5 Chairperson Denis Ndyomugyenyi Nzeirwe and CAO Mugabe to ensure that the officials appear before the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to record statements.
He further instructed the district leadership to suspend the salaries of officials who fail to appear before the unit until they comply with the requirement to record statements.
