Kween RDC Accuses NRM Chairman of Trade Corruption Before Museveni

President Museveni's gathering in Kween on Tuesday was marked by tension when the regional development coordinator for the area, Hope At...

President Museveni's gathering in Kween on Tuesday was marked by tension when the regional development coordinator for the area, Hope Atuhaire, and the district chairman of the NRM, Steven Mangusho, exchanged accusations in front of the President.

The allegations began when the President requested Atuhaire to clarify "some of the statements" he had come across in the region.

"I've been informed there's an issue with your RDC. What's the problem?" Museveni stated, then requested Atuhaire to go to the podium to clarify.

In her defense, the RDC stated that having spent the last two years in Kween, she encountered extensive corruption and made efforts to combat it—but it pushed back.

"I encountered individuals who are highly corrupt. Today, we are dealing with an issue involving an independent candidate named (Jacob) Chelogoi Motors. He opposes everyone, challenges every development, and specifically targets me because I have been fighting against corruption," the RDC stated.

I discovered that individuals stealing PDM funds use identification cards of deceased individuals, attach phone numbers of living people, and collect the money themselves.

She mentioned that some of them are leaders of SACCO.

You discover that a chairman has received money; the wife, children, and relatives have all also taken PDM. You come across amounts like Shs5 million or Shs7 million within a single family.

Atuhaire mentioned she possesses proof, having already recovered Shs35 million, and seven SACCO officials have been remanded.

The RDC stated that funds allocated for road construction were misappropriated by engineers, and they were implicated by the IGG's reports.

Resources allocated for road construction were misused by the engineers responsible for the project. We have a committee looking into this, but what they are told is, 'Let us leave things as they are (embezzlement).' Funds meant for murram, sand, and other materials were stolen, while culverts remained uninstalled.

Those are the ones. I possess all the proof. They don't wish to be discussed, and they claim that money belongs to the government, so it must be consumed. I stood my ground and declared that none will take it as long as I have witnessed their actions. They aim to conceal their wrongdoing.

Museveni then requested Steven Mangusho, the NRM district chairman, who had previously brought up the matter with the RDC, to provide an explanation.

He, nevertheless, alleged that the RDC and the previous CAO were involved in siphoning funds, particularly for road projects.

"For the past two years, Shs1.2 billion allocated for roads in Kween has been misused. The RDC was present along with the former CAO. They were involved in collusion. Although the RDC is responsible for monitoring road projects, they did nothing. We brought in the IGG to address the issue of the missing murram funds, but the RDC merely watched without taking any arrests," Mangusho said.

He mentioned that the RDC was working together with the former CAO, who has now retired.

Nevertheless, Abdi Fadhil Chemaswet, the Soi County Member of Parliament and head of the district roads committee, came to the defense of the RDC.

"Your Honor, the funds from 2022 and 2023 were not utilized properly. I sent a letter as chairman to the DPC to look into those responsible for mishandling the Shs1 billion," he stated.

Chemaswet stated that the funds are insufficient to address the more than 200 km of roads in the area. He, nevertheless, supported the RDC as a campaign that is being pursued.

The issue lies in politics. This is a politically charged season, and currently, some people wish for the RDC to be transferred so they can manage their political affairs. The RDC has not misused funds; it's purely a political matter.

Museveni Makes Final Decision

President Museveni stated that he would dispatch an auditor to investigate the exact circumstances.

"I am now going to dispatch my auditor to address the matter of roads and PDM so that we can uncover the truth. We will obtain the truth through an audit. God will assist us," he stated.

The President, nevertheless, urged selected leaders from LC1 to LC5 to assist in combating corruption within their regions.

The individuals responsible for combating corruption are our chosen leaders. This is why we established the LC system. We previously had other administrators such as sub-county and parish officials, but they were corrupt. While we were in the bush, we decided that to ensure safety, people should elect their own leaders to oversee these government workers. That's the reason behind the LC system — to monitor the civil servants.

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