A former Njeru Municipality parliamentary candidate and National Resistance Movement (NRM) stalwart, Badru Kabuye Mpoza, has alleged that demands for kickbacks by some officials could be contributing to the poor quality and stalled road works in the municipality.
Kabuye made the allegations during a meeting in Njeru Municipality organised by the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) coordinator for Greater Mukono, Jimmy Lwanga, who is also a former Njeru Municipality parliamentary candidate.
According to Kabuye, he previously raised concerns about the state of roads with Njeru Municipal Engineer Festo Mawanga, who allegedly told him that some senior officials demanded kickbacks before road works could proceed.
Kabuye claimed that such payments allegedly left contractors and officials with limited funds to execute the planned works, resulting in roads being poorly maintained or projects remaining incomplete.
“The engineer told me that some of his bosses demand money before the work can be done,” Kabuye alleged.
The allegations could not be independently verified. Mawanga and the officials reportedly implicated in the claims had not responded to the allegations by the time of publication.
Kabuye said the alleged corruption was partly responsible for what he described as poor service delivery in Njeru, arguing that the municipality was performing below other urban areas in Buikwe District, including Lugazi Municipality and Buikwe South.
Pressure For Government Inspection
The allegations come at a time when residents and local leaders are demanding greater scrutiny of government-funded projects in Njeru.
Lwanga, who organised the meeting, has promised to invite the State Minister for Local Government, Balaamu Barugahare, to visit the municipality and inspect roads and other government projects that residents claim have stalled.
Kabuye welcomed the proposal, saying a physical inspection by the minister would help establish whether funds allocated to the municipality had been properly utilised.
He also called for stronger accountability mechanisms, saying corruption allegations should not be dismissed without investigations.
Kabuye, who is also a PLU leader in Buikwe District, described corruption as a major challenge in the district and said the organisation was prepared to support the anti-corruption message associated with its leader, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Some residents attending the meeting backed Kabuye’s concerns.
Isaac Kasaga, one of the participants, alleged that money intended for road works was being shared among some district and municipal officials, although he did not provide evidence to substantiate the claim.
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Roads Dispute Adds To Concerns
The accusations come amid a separate dispute between Buikwe District and Njeru Municipality officials over the municipality’s failure to submit reports to two district roads committees.
The disagreement reportedly prompted the district engineer to give Njeru Municipal Engineer Festo Mawanga an additional two weeks to organise the required reports and guide officials to roads that the municipality says have already been worked on.
The development has heightened scrutiny of road projects in the municipality, where residents have repeatedly complained about deteriorating roads, incomplete works and other government-funded projects.
Residents have questioned why some roads remain in poor condition despite government funding being allocated for their maintenance.
Previous Accountability Concerns
Questions about expenditure and accountability in Njeru Municipality are not new.
Before leaving Parliament, former Buikwe South MP Dr Lulume Bayiga reportedly questioned the municipality’s expenditure of Shs9 million on a single council sitting, describing the amount as excessive and calling for stronger accountability over public funds.
Kabuye said the latest concerns should prompt government agencies to examine how money allocated to Njeru Municipality is planned, released and spent.
For residents, the central concern remains whether funds allocated for roads and other public services are reaching their intended projects.
The calls for intervention now put the spotlight on Minister Barugahare, who residents want to visit Njeru and independently assess the condition of roads and the progress of government-funded projects.
Unless the allegations are investigated and officials provide a clear account of the funds allocated for road works, the concerns are likely to continue fuelling questions about accountability and service delivery in Njeru Municipality.
ENDS.
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