Town clerks accused of over payment
Oct 05, 2008
THE interdicted principal assistant town clerks of KCC, Steven Higobero and Godfrey Kisekka, have been accused of approving an over payment for the incomplete administrative block for Makindye Division.
By Josephine Maseruka
THE interdicted principal assistant town clerks of KCC, Steven Higobero and Godfrey Kisekka, have been accused of approving an over payment for the incomplete administrative block for Makindye Division.
The division council members said although the block was to cost sh1.2b, an additional sh323m was paid.
The accusations were made before the commission of inquiry in the management of Makindye and Kawempe divisions on Thursday.
Patrick Magala, the Secretary for Works, Roads and Water, said originally, the structure was to be a multi-storied building with three levels but it was reduced to two.
Others named in the scam were Sam Sserwanga, the former division finance officer, Bakabulindi, the division engineer, Richard Ssemakula and Benedict Ssemuwemba.
Magala said KCC awarded contracts on behalf of the division but the division leaders were not given information about the contractors. “This makes it difficult for us to supervise projects,†Magala said.
He blamed Ruth Kijjambu, the acting Kampala Town Clerk, for not punishing officials who caused financial loss but simply transferring them.
“This is tax payers’ money which is swindled in billions and the circle of money-hungry people is just transplanted to other areas,†he said.
Siraje Lubwama, the vice-chairman of the division, had earlier complained of unfair treatment by the ministry of works regarding the construction of the headquarters.
Lubwama said that Wakiso district had been allowed to have its office built by National Housing and Construction Company. He noted that National Housing had accepted to construct their headquarters at sh900m but the works ministry had instead offered it to EMTEK Construction Company, which abandoned the work.
However, the secretary to the probe, Issa Gumonye, who is also an employee of the Ministry of Local Government, said the ministry would not give out money to construct headquarters without tendering the contract.
“This is government money and procurement regulations had to be followed. That is what was done in Wakiso,†he said.
THE interdicted principal assistant town clerks of KCC, Steven Higobero and Godfrey Kisekka, have been accused of approving an over payment for the incomplete administrative block for Makindye Division.
The division council members said although the block was to cost sh1.2b, an additional sh323m was paid.
The accusations were made before the commission of inquiry in the management of Makindye and Kawempe divisions on Thursday.
Patrick Magala, the Secretary for Works, Roads and Water, said originally, the structure was to be a multi-storied building with three levels but it was reduced to two.
Others named in the scam were Sam Sserwanga, the former division finance officer, Bakabulindi, the division engineer, Richard Ssemakula and Benedict Ssemuwemba.
Magala said KCC awarded contracts on behalf of the division but the division leaders were not given information about the contractors. “This makes it difficult for us to supervise projects,†Magala said.
He blamed Ruth Kijjambu, the acting Kampala Town Clerk, for not punishing officials who caused financial loss but simply transferring them.
“This is tax payers’ money which is swindled in billions and the circle of money-hungry people is just transplanted to other areas,†he said.
Siraje Lubwama, the vice-chairman of the division, had earlier complained of unfair treatment by the ministry of works regarding the construction of the headquarters.
Lubwama said that Wakiso district had been allowed to have its office built by National Housing and Construction Company. He noted that National Housing had accepted to construct their headquarters at sh900m but the works ministry had instead offered it to EMTEK Construction Company, which abandoned the work.
However, the secretary to the probe, Issa Gumonye, who is also an employee of the Ministry of Local Government, said the ministry would not give out money to construct headquarters without tendering the contract.
“This is government money and procurement regulations had to be followed. That is what was done in Wakiso,†he said.