State House arrests 7 gov’t officials in Fort Portal over public land
Those still on the run and they include Gerald Mugenyi, the senior Accounts Assistant and Moses Tibihika Theophiccus, the accounting officer.
The land officials allegedly approved Balinda's application without inspection, despite the fact that the land is within the river's protected borders and should not be occupied.
NewVision Reporter
@NewVision
STATE HOUSE | CORRUPTION | FRAUD
FORT PORTAL - The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), headed by Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke, working in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force have apprehended seven public officials of Fort Portal City and Kabalole district local government over alleged corruption and mismanagement of funds.
According to a Friday press release from SHACU, five of the suspects were arrested on September 28, 2022 and including Fort Portal City and Kabarole district land officials.
They included the area land Committee members of the former West Division Fort Portal, which later became the Central Division and Fort Portal City.
They are accused of allegedly conniving to sell public land at Millane Access, along River Mpanga to a businessman, Abasi Balinda
The suspects include David Baguma Mwesige, the chairperson Area Land Committee of West Division, Samuel Musana, a senior Physical Planner of Fort Portal City and Simon Peter Kugonza, the district Staff Surveyor. Others are Sumini Nansubuga, the senior Staff Surveyor Kabarole Ministry Zonal Office (MZO) and Jessy Smart Bwango, the Secretary District Land Board Kabarole.
According to the statement, the land officials allegedly approved Balinda's application without inspection, despite the fact that the land is within the river's protected borders and should not be occupied.
The Ministry Zonal Office’s District Staff Surveyor and Senior Staff Surveyor did not double-check the application to identify the junior officers' omissions and errors.
The Secretary District Land Board was also accused of failing to advise on the irregularities in Balinda’s including his claim of customarily owning the land, whereas not.
The SHACU investigators on Friday also apprehended two senior officials including Richard Alituha, the Kabalore Principle Education Officer, and Annet Kirungi, the former head of finance on allegations of mismanagement of over sh180m in capitation grants for Fort Portal City schools and tertiary institutions for the Financial Year 2021/2022.
Other suspects in the same case are still on the run and they include Gerald Mugenyi, the senior Accounts Assistant and Moses Tibihika Theophiccus, the accounting officer.
The hunt for the missing suspects is still ongoing.