KABALE: The Kabale District Water Officer, Patience Aharinta Twine, has been interdicted over allegations of project mismanagement, influence peddling, procurement irregularities and delaying payments for completed projects.
Aharinta is accused of misleading the Kabale District Council into approving Shs 155,129,119 for the construction of the Rukurura Gravity Flow Scheme in Butanda Sub County, Ndorwa West Constituency, a project that had already been completed by the Diocese of Kigezi.
In the 2023/2024 financial year, the government allocated the funds to extend safe water to the area. However, instead of initiating a new project, Aharinta allegedly attempted to claim credit for the already existing gravity flow scheme.
On March 31, 2025, she issued a letter announcing a commissioning ceremony scheduled for April 2, 2025, which triggered concerns from stakeholders.
A whistleblower alerted the Diocese of Kigezi about the district’s alleged attempt to take undue credit. In response, Rev. Canon Reuben Byomuhangi, Diocesan Coordinator for the Water and Sanitation Program, protested the move in a letter dated March 31, 2025.
He emphasized that the project was fully functional and managed by local communities. Rev. Canon Byomuhangi urged district authorities to redirect the funds to rehabilitate the Buramba Gravity Flow Scheme in Kahungye Sub County.
The protest led to an administrative response. In an interdiction letter signed by Robert Mugabe, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, on April 3, 2025, Aharinta was ordered to hand over her office to Baram Anyijukire, the Assistant District Engineering Officer, by April 7, 2025.
The letter also cited Aharinta’s failure to pay contractors during the 2023/2024 financial year, damaging the district’s reputation. Additionally, she is accused of mismanaging the Buramba Gravity Flow Scheme, leading to public outcry and prompting an investigation ordered by the Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babirye Babalanda.
Despite multiple attempts to reach her for comment, Aharinta did not respond to repeated phone calls.
The Kabale Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Godfrey Nyakahuma, has directed the police and the District Internal Security Officer to carry out a thorough investigation. He also confirmed that Adix Plumbers, the contractor allegedly involved in the fraudulent scheme, will be investigated.
This incident is not the first case of suspected fraud within Kabale’s water office. In the 2022/2023 financial year, Shs 127.445 million was allocated for the construction of the Burambira Gravity Flow Scheme in Kaharo Sub County, a project that had already been executed by the Diocese of Kigezi.
Following exposure, the funds were redirected to the Buramba scheme, which has itself come under scrutiny for failing to serve its intended purpose.
The ongoing investigation into the matter has been registered at the Kigezi Region Police Headquarters under CRB 327/2024.
