Butambala officials charged over theft of sh430m road maintenance fuel
The suspects, including the acting district engineer and chief finance officer, were arraigned before the Butambala Chief Magistrates Court on Friday. They face charges of theft of fuel and conspiracy to defraud, according to a statement issued by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU).
Four senior officials from the Butambala district local government have been charged in court for allegedly stealing fuel worth over shillings 430 million. (Courtesy photo)
By John Masaba
Journalists @New Vision
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Four senior officials from the Butambala district local government have been charged in court for allegedly stealing fuel worth over shillings 430 million, which was meant for road works under the government’s sh1b Road Maintenance Grant.
The suspects, including the acting district engineer and chief finance officer, were arraigned before the Butambala Chief Magistrates Court on Friday. They face charges of theft of fuel and conspiracy to defraud, according to a statement issued by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU).
The accused were identified as:
- Naigembe Jesica – Ag. District Engineer
- Wandera Joseph – Chief Finance Officer
- Muwaga Fred – District Internal Auditor
- Kizito Charles Mukalazi – Driver, Butambala District Local Government
They have been remanded until July 28, 2025, as investigations continue. A fifth suspect, Kayinga Geoffrey, the acting District Water Officer, is still at large.
Fuel Diversion Scheme
According to investigators, between April and June 2024 (FY 2023/2024), the group is accused of misappropriating 80,000.86 litres of fuel valued at sh431.4m, which had been allocated for road maintenance projects in Butambala.
The two engineers—Naigembe Jesica and Kayinga Geoffrey—allegedly inflated fuel requirements for various road works. They would then irregularly draw or divert the fuel, issuing it to private individuals or using it for non-official purposes. To conceal the scheme, they reportedly colluded with fuel station managers to falsify accountabilities, presenting documentation that claimed the fuel had been issued to drivers under the Works Department.
However, investigations revealed that these drivers denied ever receiving or consuming the fuel in question.
Systemic lapses, collusion
The chief finance officer and the internal auditor, Wandera Joseph and Muwaga Fred, respectively, are accused of deliberately neglecting their supervisory roles. Despite being responsible for overseeing the receipt and expenditure of the road maintenance grant, they allegedly turned a blind eye to the irregularities.
Worse still, investigators say the two officials personally benefited by consuming some of the fuel themselves, making them complicit in the scheme and failing to enforce internal controls.
The arrests and charges stem from a joint investigation led by SHACU in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Crackdown on local government corruption
The case is part of a broader anti-corruption crackdown on the misuse of public funds in local governments. District-level corruption—especially involving road and water infrastructure budgets—has been a recurring concern, with poor oversight and weak accountability mechanisms often enabling embezzlement.
In recent years, the Government has increased funding for local road maintenance to improve rural connectivity and access to markets, schools, and health services. However, misuse of these funds undermines service delivery and erodes public trust.
SHACU has called for greater vigilance by local leaders and citizens in monitoring public resources. The Unit emphasised that investigations are ongoing and additional suspects may be charged.