Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara has ordered the immediate arrest of the Pakwach District Engineer and Town Clerk over the alleged misuse of Shs900 million meant for road construction in the district.
According to information released by the minister, the officials allegedly failed to properly account for the funds allocated for road works and instead carried out what has been described as poor-quality or “shabby” work. The alleged work was reportedly completed about three weeks ago, raising questions about how the money was spent and the quality of the roads delivered.
The minister is said to have taken action after inspecting the works and becoming dissatisfied with what he found on the ground. He reportedly rejected attempts to use the poor work to cover up possible financial mismanagement.
There are also allegations that about Shs12 million was being retained as a balance, allegedly in an attempt to create the impression that the officials had completed the work while leaving some money unspent. However, the minister reportedly questioned the accountability of every amount allocated to the project.
Balaam stressed that public funds must be properly accounted for and that officials entrusted with government resources must deliver quality services to the people.
The arrest of the two officials is expected to pave the way for investigations into how the Shs900 million was spent, the quality of the road works and whether any funds were misappropriated.
The minister’s action comes as the government continues to push for stronger accountability and action against officials suspected of misusing public resources.
Balaam has maintained that government officials should not take public funds for granted, warning that anyone involved in corruption or poor service delivery will be held accountable.
The developments in Pakwach have once again put the spotlight on the management of government funds at the local government level, with calls for officials to ensure that every public shilling is properly used for its intended purpose.
