Kanungu District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Abdallah Awuye and District Education Officer Shaban Adamz have been handed over to police and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for investigations into allegations of corruption, abuse of office and mismanagement of public funds.
The two officials were handed over on Tuesday by Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara, who accused them of involvement in several alleged irregularities involving government funds, public land and development projects in the district.
Barugahara accused Adamz of permitting head teachers in government schools to collect examination fees from pupils and allegedly sharing the proceeds with him. He also accused Awuye of allegedly selling government land in different parts of Kanungu District and retaining the money.
The CAO was further implicated in the alleged mismanagement of funds meant for the construction of Kihembe Sub-county headquarters, alongside district engineer January Silangi Mugaye, who is reportedly on the run.
According to Barugahara, the project received Shs70 million, but only Shs13 million was allegedly spent on the construction works. The minister questioned the quality of the resulting structure, arguing that it looked more like a kitchen than an administrative headquarters.
Barugahara also expressed concern about the quality of work on Butogota Bridge, which was reportedly constructed at a cost of Shs40 million.
In another case, the minister demanded an explanation from Awuye over Shs800 million reportedly allocated to establish a fish hatchery in Kihihi Town Council. He questioned why the facility had no fish despite the substantial public investment.
Following the accusations, Awuye and Adamz were taken to Kanungu Police Station for detention as investigations into the allegations continued. The accusations had not been established in court, and the officials’ responses to the claims were not included in the available information.
At the time of publication, Barugahara was continuing his inspection of government-funded projects across the district ahead of a public baraza scheduled to take place in Kihihi Town Council.
On Wednesday, the minister is expected to proceed to Rukungiri District as he concludes his anti-corruption campaign in the Kigezi sub-region.
English 