Kabale District in Turmoil: Officials In Hot Water Over Diverting Funds Meant For Road Repairs

Kabale, Uganda – Loyce Asiimwe, the Clerk to the Council of Kabale District, along with three other officials from Maziba sub-county, are facing serious allegations of embezzlement and causing financial loss. Vianney Besigwomwe, the Maziba sub-county chief, and James Magezi, a sub-accountant, are currently in detention at Kabale police station, while Loyce Asiimwe and Patrick Oworinawe, a former Kyanamira sub-county Cashier currently serving in Maziba sub-county, are on the run.

Besigwomwe is accused of embezzling 17.18 million Shillings intended for the rehabilitation of district roads in Maziba sub-county. Godfrey Nyakahuma, Kabale Resident District Commissioner, revealed that investigations indicate no district road in Maziba sub-county has been rehabilitated since the 2020 financial year despite the released funds.

Nyakahuma further explained that Besigwomwe, together with Magezi, Oworinawe, and Asiimwe, is suspected of embezzling 8.95 million Shillings allocated for rehabilitating Kyanamira sub-county council hall in early 2020. Additionally, they are accused of misappropriating funds earmarked for the Nyakagyera-Rwanshenyire road in Kyanamira sub-county during the same period.

It’s alleged that before their transfer, the accused withdrew unspecified amounts from Kyanamira sub-county’s bank account, leaving a mere 39,000 Shillings behind. Nyakahuma’s office has instructed the Chief Administrative Officer’s office to facilitate the production of Oworinawe and Asiimwe to the police. Security agencies are also investigating missing amounts from the District Development Equalization Grant in Maziba sub-county.

Onesmus Mutungi, the Maziba sub-county LCIII Chairperson, expressed relief at the arrest of the two officials, stating that it is a welcomed development for locals who have been questioning the government’s failure to rehabilitate roads in the sub-county. The ongoing investigations aim to shed light on the extent of financial mismanagement and embezzlement by these officials.