Mbale district water engineer arrested over mismanagement of govt project
Walimbwa is also under separate investigation over the alleged misappropriation of the sh1 billion road project in Bulambuli district.
Wandera was arrested on Sunday, July 19, 2026, and detained at the Mbale Central Police Station. His detention follows the opening of a case referenced as GEF: 09/2026 over alleged mismanagement of the Buyobo - Bubyangu Gravity Flow Scheme in Mbale District.
MBALE - The Water Engineer of Mbale District, Eng. Simon Peter Wandera, has been arrested over alleged mismanagement of a government project.
Wandera was arrested on Sunday, July 19, 2026, and detained at the Mbale Central Police Station. His detention follows the opening of a case referenced as GEF: 09/2026 over alleged mismanagement of the Buyobo - Bubyangu Gravity Flow Scheme in Mbale District.
The Local Government Minister, Balaam Barugahara, in a statement on Sunday evening, said the project was funded to a tune of shs2.2 billion by President Yoweri Museveni, with the objective of providing clean and free piped water from the Elgon Mountains to rural communities in the area.
“It is regrettable that all connected public taps are dry, despite the massive investment intended to serve the people. All contractors are hereby put on notice to desist from substandard work. Government projects must meet the required standards and deliver real value to Ugandans,” Barugahara warned.
Eng. Wandera joins several other district officials, who have since been arrested over alleged misuse of government funds.
On Friday, Eng. Paul Walimbwa, the Bulambuli district engineer, and Dr Richard Mulongo, the district health officer, were arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala on charges of abuse of office, causing financial loss, and neglect of duty resulting in the loss of public funds.
The two officials were arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), working together with the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and were on July 17, 2026, remanded to Luzira Prison until August 3, 2026.
The State alleged that investigations revealed that Eng. Walimbwa, while serving as the district engineer during the financial year 2021/2022, allegedly abused his office by directing the supply of door frames and window casements in quantities exceeding those required and authorised for the construction of the Bulambuli district administration block.
It is alleged that Walimbwa bypassed the prescribed procurement procedures and failed to obtain the necessary approvals, resulting in a financial loss to the Government of more than sh20 million.
Preliminary findings from the Ministry of Works and Transport's Mbale Regional Materials Laboratory indicate that garden soil was allegedly used on Kimulu-Tunyi Road instead of the approved gravel and murram. Investigations are still ongoing.
On the other hand, Dr Mulongo was charged with abuse of office, causing financial loss, and negligence leading to loss of public funds.
Investigations revealed that while serving as the senior medical officer in charge of Muyembe Health Centre IV during the financial year 2021/2022, Mulongo allegedly irregularly oversaw the construction of a pit latrine in contravention of the approved standards and procedures for health facilities.
It is further alleged that he requisitioned sh7 million for the construction despite the works not meeting the required standards. As a result, the pit latrine has never become operational since its construction, leading to the loss of public funds intended to improve healthcare service delivery.
A statement released by SHACU indicated that the arrest of the two officials formed part of the ongoing nationwide anti-corruption campaign spearheaded by Minister Barugahara to expose and hold corrupt officials in local governments accountable.