Tension and panic continue to engulf different District Local Governments across Uganda as Anti-corruption bodies continue with operations against corrupt officials, with many already arrested and prosecuted.
In Rwampara District western Uganda,the Chief Administrative Officer-CAO Steven Rubeihayo and the Production Officer Atanasias Gumisiriza are in trouble,and yet to record statements over missing Parish Development Model-PDM funds.
They were arrested on Monday, September 12,2022 on the orders of Rwampara Resident District Commissioner-RDC Jane Asiimwe Muhindo for swindling PDM funds, following public outcry and media reports. The duo were taken to Nyeihanga police station where they were detained waiting to record their statements. During a PDM meeting convened at Rwampara District headquarters in Kinoni by the RDC Jane Asiimwe Muhindo,it was also found out that there was misappropriation of PDM money totalling to Ugx35 million.
Richard Owomugasho, the Rwampara District LC5 Chairman explained that Ugx35 million was meant for sensitization and mobilization of households and data collection in parishes of Rwampara district, but the Production Officer presented a fake report in the meeting indicating that he sent Ugx35 million in the accounts of Ndeija sub county to support the parish chiefs and data collectors in the same sub county. The parish chiefs and data collectors have never received even a single coin from the district. Over Ugx7.8million shillings which was also meant for parish development model can’t be traced – with the CAO unable to account for it.
During the registration of groups,some civil servants would ask for Ugx34,000 for each group to be registered and the CAO remained mum yet he knew about this misconduct.
Authorities have now implored the people to embrace parish development model for socio-economic transformation and report all corruption cases or accountability gaps hindering government programs like EMYOOGA and service delivery in different areas.
