(ts.19.2010)

Updated: April 19, 2011, 2:57 p.m.

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The Inspectorate of Government received a complaint alleging embezzlement of funds and abuse of office by officials of Kasangombe Sub County. The following issues were raised:

(a) That Kasangombe Sub County Council in Nakaseke District received shs. 100,000,000/= meant for the construction and finishing of the Sub County Headquarters but that the LC III Chairman, Sub County Chief, CFO and Internal Auditor of the District altered the initial plan to a smaller one and used Sub Standard materials for construction only to the wall plate level leaving officials to operate under trees after squandering ¾ of the money. That later, Government added more funds for the same project which was also embezzled leaving the building half way built.

(b) That the NAADS funds at the Sub County were also being mismanaged. That this was done through inflating agricultural inputs to the advantage of peasants. That the items whose prices were inflated are oranges from the agricultural research centre, chicks, pumps, calves and kids.

(c) Several general allegations were raised.

(d) That the Sub County Chairperson lacks the required academic qualifications.

Investigations established that:

(i) Shs. 10m/= was received from the office of the Prime Minister by Kasangombe Sub County as contribution towards the construction of the Sub County Headquarters. Shs. 500,000/= was also received from Hon. Namayanja and the Sub County authorities decided to put 450,000/= of her contribution to the same activity. The money was put on the Kasangombe building account. By the time of the investigations, the money was still there save for bank charges deductions. There was no evidence established to show that shs. 100,000,000/= had been received by the District or Sub County for the construction of the Kasangombe Sub County Headquarters.

(ii) During the 2009/10 financial year, Kasangombe Sub County procured in-calf heifers and chicks under the NAADS Programme. The prices were as per the lists provided by the District Procurement and Disposal Unit. Farmers are expected to pay back 70% of the initial prices under a revolving fund for the benefit of their group members. There was no evidence of hiking of prices of the agricultural inputs.

In view of the above findings, the complaint has not been upheld. Accordingly the officials of Nakaseke District Local Government and Kasangombe Sub County are hereby absolved of the allegation that they received shs. 100,000,000/= meant for the construction of Kasangombe Sub County and embezzled it.