Kabale District Local Government Senior Civil Engineer, Levi Turyahikayo Kansiime, has been interdicted for six months over allegations of misappropriation of public funds, inadequate supervision and failure to ensure completion of road projects in Kaharo Sub-county.
The interdiction, issued by the district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Robert Mugabe, on Monday, takes immediate effect and is intended to facilitate investigations into alleged financial irregularities and failure to account for resources allocated to road projects during the 2023/24 financial year.
According to the interdiction letter, the allegations relate to the implementation, supervision, certification and management of funds for road projects in Kaharo Sub-county.
The letter cites “serious allegations” against Kansiime, including alleged misappropriation or embezzlement of public funds, failure to ensure completion of road projects, inadequate supervision and failure to satisfactorily account for project resources and outputs.
Mugabe said that, if established, the allegations could amount to misconduct, negligence, abuse of office, failure to perform official duties and offences involving public funds.
One of the projects cited is the Kariba-Kyabasho-Nyakasharara road in Kaharo Sub-county, for which Kansiime is alleged to have been advanced Shs5.4 million.
The letter says the Kaharo Sub-county leadership raised concerns over the engineer’s alleged failure to properly account for and safeguard public funds allocated to the affected road projects.
Kansiime is also accused of failing to ensure completion of the projects despite the release and expenditure of public funds for the works.
The CAO further alleges that the engineer failed to exercise the professional competence, diligence, accountability and technical care expected of a senior civil engineer, resulting in alleged financial loss, wastage of public resources and failure to deliver the intended road infrastructure to residents.
The allegations are said to contravene provisions of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders, the Public Finance Management Act, 2015, and the Local Governments Financial and Accounting Regulations, 2007.
During the interdiction, Kansiime has been directed to cease exercising the powers and functions of senior civil engineer and hand over all government property and official materials in his custody.
These include road project files, contracts, bills of quantities, drawings, site books, measurement books, inspection reports, certificates, payment documents, correspondence, equipment, keys and electronic records.
He has also been warned against accessing, removing, altering, destroying, concealing or interfering with project records and financial documents related to the investigations without written authorisation.
The interdicted engineer is required to remain available to investigators and disciplinary authorities and attend interviews, meetings or disciplinary hearings whenever required.
He has also been barred from leaving Uganda without prior written permission from the responsible officer.
Under public service regulations, Kansiime will receive not less than half of his basic salary during the period of interdiction.
Mugabe said any financial loss arising from the allegations would be established through audit and investigations.
“If responsibility for loss of public funds is established after due inquiry and in accordance with the law, Government may institute appropriate measures for recovery of public funds,” the letter states.
The interdiction will remain subject to applicable public service laws, regulations and Standing Orders, as well as the progress of investigations.
Kansiime has been required to acknowledge receipt of the interdiction letter and immediately commence the handover of government property, project files, technical records and official documents in his custody.
The letter was copied to the Resident District Commissioner, district chairperson, Chief Finance Officer, internal auditor, district works department, District Service Commission and principal human resource officer.
