BUGWERI – Hon. Balaam has today chaired an anti-corruption meeting at Bugweri District Hall, where massive accountability failures in roads, education, health and government programs were laid bare.
The meeting established that the then Acting District Engineer, Swaibu Kibanda, failed to account for UGX 2 billion meant for road maintenance in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.
Eight roads were affected. These include the 12.5km Mulanga-Bubenge-Nawampedo road at UGX 375m, the 5.53km Nakivumbi-Makluutu road at UGX 165m, the 9.4km Busembatia-Namalemba-Bulugodha-Minai road at UGX 60m, the 9.4km Bukoona-Bulunguli-Bubala road at UGX 82m, the 12.3km Bulyansime-Nondwe-Namaiga road at UGX 285m, the 7.9km Idudi-Nabinah road at UGX 212m, the 4.5km Nawansega-Nakivumbi road at UGX 120m and the 3km Nawegoloire-Bunio road at UGX 87m.
The Engineer was interdicted on 10th October 2025 for failure to complete works by 30th June 2025, failure to account for UGX 600m, abuse of office, insubordination and negligence of duty. The meeting heard that accountabilities submitted to the District Public Accounts Committee were forged. His clearance on 6th August 2026 by the Rewards and Sanctions Committee has left the public dissatisfied.
The meeting also established that the six-stance water-borne public toilet constructed at UGX 47.9m in Busesa was diverted from Busesa Trading Centre to the District Headquarters behind the LCV’s office. The facility is non-functional because no water source was drilled as provided for in the project scope.
On education, the meeting established that 54 UPE schools and 8 USE schools in Bugweri charge illegal fees and send learners home. At Idinda Primary School, pupils were sent home on 20th April 2026 for fees ranging from 25,000/= to 70,000/=. At Kalalu Primary School, pupils were chased on 21st April 2026 for fees between 30,000/= and 50,000/=. At Ibulanku Primary School, learners were chased on 22nd June 2026 for fees between 16,000 and 50,000. At Busimu Primary School, pupils were chased on 15th June 2026 for fees between 16,000/= and 70,000/=.
The meeting further established that PDM funds were mismanaged after non-staff were deployed to run the PDMIS system and extorted money from beneficiaries.
Recruitment in the district was marred by extortion and influence peddling. A double pension payment of UGX 126m was made, while some senior staff received overpayments of UGX 12m each.
Health workers at Busesa HC IV were cited for illegal charges on patients. The Nondwe piped water project worth UGX 247m remains incomplete with shoddy works. Construction of Mpiita Seed and Idudi Seed Secondary Schools has stalled.
The meeting also established that two tractors provided by the Ministry of Agriculture were diverted. The tractor meant for Nawansega rice growers ended up with a private individual in Busembatia Town Council, while the tractor meant for Bugweri Women Multipurpose ended up with another individual in Busesa Town Council.
Hon. Balaam directed that all implicated officials be held accountable and pledged government’s resolve to end corruption in service delivery.
