Signatures of three Kabale District Local Government officials who were interdicted over allegations of stealing 102 cows under the Shs1.481 billion Green Climate Fund (GCF) project have been submitted to the Government Analytical Laboratory for verification.
The officials are Elly Niwagaba, the District Inventory Officer; Beda Mwebesa, the District Production and Marketing Officer; and Denis Naviri, the District Internal Auditor.
The trio is accused of allegedly conniving with Dr Masembe Kamaradi, the Principal Assistant Inspector in charge of districts at the Ministry of Local Government, and Ronald Mutegeki, the former Kabale District Chief Administrative Officer, in the alleged theft of the cows.
Mutegeki has since been summoned to record a statement at Kabale Central Police Station.
While addressing councillors during an extraordinary council meeting at the district Rukiiko Hall on Monday, Kabale Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Rtd Maj. Godfrey Katamba, said the signatures were submitted to the laboratory after the three officials denied that they belonged to them.
Maj. Katamba said the verification is intended to establish whether the signatures appearing on documents under investigation were made by the officials.
He, however, expressed concern over delays in prosecuting corruption cases, saying lengthy procedures often delay the files from reaching the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.
He said the officials remain in Kabale and would soon be taken to court for prosecution.
Maj. Katamba also urged councillors to use their oversight role to expose corruption and other irregularities in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
CUE RDC KATAMBA…ON THE MATTER…ENG//
Meanwhile, Kabale District Speaker, Flavia Nyinakiiza Kanagizi, has called for an independent investigation into the distribution of project items under the GCF project.
Kanagizi said there was a need to establish whether the intended beneficiaries actually received the items procured under the project.
She urged the district to work with relevant authorities to establish the facts surrounding the project, identify any irregularities and ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive what was meant for them.
CUE IN KANAGIZI…ON THE MATTER…ENG//
