The Water Engineer of Mbale District, Eng. Wandera Simon Peter, has been detained at Mbale Central Police Station (CPS) following his arrest over alleged mismanagement of the Buyobo-Bubyangu Gravity Flow Scheme, a major government-funded water project in the district.
According to a statement by the Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Barugahara Balaam Ateenyi, the engineer’s arrest is linked to General Enquiry File (GEF) 09/2026 as authorities investigate allegations surrounding the implementation of the project.
The Buyobo-Bubyangu Gravity Flow Scheme was funded with UGX 2.2 billion by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s government to provide clean and safe piped water to rural communities in Mbale District. The project was designed to tap water from the Elgon Mountains and supply it to residents who have long faced challenges accessing reliable clean water.
However, concerns have emerged after reports that all public water taps connected to the scheme are currently not functioning, despite the huge financial investment made by the government.
The failure of the water system has raised questions among residents and officials over whether the project was properly implemented and whether the funds allocated delivered the intended benefits to the community.
Minister Balaam expressed concern over the situation, saying government projects must provide real value to Ugandans and should not be affected by poor workmanship or negligence.
He warned contractors involved in public projects against carrying out substandard work, emphasizing that all government-funded projects must meet the required quality standards and serve the communities they are intended to benefit.
Authorities are expected to continue investigations into the allegations to establish what went wrong with the project and identify those responsible if any wrongdoing is found.
The government has continued to emphasize accountability in public service delivery, especially in projects aimed at improving access to essential services such as clean water in rural areas.
