Lwengo district officials interdicted over abuse of office

By Davis Buyondo

LWENGO - Two officials of Lwengo sub-county in Lwengo district were on Friday interdicted over alleged abuse of office.

The interdicted officers are Paul Nsubuga, the Ndagwe sub-county chief and Flavia Bayega, sub-county cashier.

They are implicated in the disappearance of more than sh17m from the sub-county coffers.

Nsubuga and Bayega are accused of allegedly conniving to withdraw sh17.8m and later mismanaged it, stalling most of the district activities which in turn affected the communities.

The missing funds were meant for NAADS activities and road maintenance in Ndagwe communities, among other projects.

Goffin Kuruhira Akiik, the Chief Administrative Officer, confirmed their interdiction, saying he ordered them to step aside as investigations into the case continue.

Akiiki also stopped the two officials from doing any district work until alleged misappropriation of the funds and abuse of office are resolved.

The matter is being handled at Masaka Police Station and the two officials are under investigation.

According to Abdul Kabugo Mugendawala, the vice chairperson of the sub-county’s finance committee and also in charge of works, the funds were withdrawn from NAADs, Community Access Road Fund and the Local Government Management Service Delivery Project accounts between December 2013 and June 2014.

The Social Service Committee discovered the irregularity last month shortly after commissioning the grading of Lwengo-Michunda-Makondo road of 7km.

Mugendawala said they approached Nsubuga for road maintenance funds but they were shocked to learn that there were no funds in the coffers. The money, he said, was withdrawn and mismanaged by the two officials.

He said the duo’s interdiction may do little to recover the missing funds.

Lubega Bazoonona, the Lwengo LCIII chairperson said the interdiction of the two officials will serve as a good example for the rest of the district officials.

Although Bayega admits to withdrawing the funds on Nsubuga’s order, Nsubuga dismissed the allegations, calling them baseless and aiming at tarnishing his name.