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The office of the Inspectorate of Government has cleared Mubende district local government officials of allegations that they diverted funds meant for Ebola.

In a letter dated March 12, 2024, to the Mubende chief administrative officer, deputy IGG Ann Twinomugisha Muhairwe revealed that they received a complaint alleging that officials of Mubende district local government diverted and embezzled funds for Ebola management.

“The allegations that funds meant for Ebola management were diverted by officials of Mubende DLG were therefore false,” said Muhairwe.

On September 20, 2022, the health ministry announced an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the Mubende district, leading to a total lockdown.

In January 2023, Uganda declared the end of the Ebola disease outbreak.

Michael Ntambi Muhereza, the Mubende district chairman, thanked the IGG for clearing the unsubstantiated allegations that had been leveled against his office. He said when he was under investigation, most of the work had been at a standstill. 

Ntambi said his opponents had reportedly filed over 10 cases against him and were reportedly insulting him on social media and radio.

“This is a victory. Since I came into power, there have been people who are against me. They started by trying to censure me and I won them," he said.

"There was a time they went to the Prime Minister and she organized a baraza on the PDM (parish development model) but when she came, she found I was one of the best-performing districts. 

"They then alleged that we had stolen shillings 550 million meant for Ebola. The issue of the forest which they said was disposed of illegally, there was a motorcycle that was attached to my office that they claimed was stolen. I am grateful that the IGG has cleared all these cases,” said Ntambi.

He said that all he had done was within the law and that the procurement for the sale of the government forest had saved the district over shillings 200 million even though the person they sold to had not cleared the balance.

Civil proceedings

Meanwhile, in her letter, deputy IGG Muhairwe addressed the forest matter.

She directed Mubende chief administrative officer Leonard Tumusiime to institute civil proceedings against businessman Willy Mukasa for breach of contract and recovery of public funds totaling shillings 124 million.

“On August 12, 2022, Mubende entered into a contract with Mukiibi for the sale of eucalyptus plantation measuring 37 hectares at a contract sum of shillings 286 million," she wrote.

"According to the terms of the contract, Mukiibi was supposed to make full payment of the full contract price within six months from the date of the agreement or by the time he harvests three-quarters of the forest. 

"To date, Mukiibi has paid shillings 162 million, leaving a balance of shillings 124 million, thereby breaching the terms of the contract."

Muhairwe added: “While the district council had planned for a supplementary budget based on revenue projections from the sale of government assets, the district faced revenue shortfalls due to the Ebola outbreak. The proceeds from the sale of eucalyptus were used to cover the financial gap created by the Ebola outbreak.

“Given the findings, you are directed to institute civil proceedings against Mukiibi for breach of contract and recovery of public funds amounting to shillings 124, 221, 520. 

"You are required to inform us of the action taken as soon as possible but not later than 14 days from the date of the receipt of this letter."