Buliisa CAO, 3 other officials arrested as Balaam orders arrest of 10 more

Buliisa: The Buliisa District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Prof. Levi Musinguzi, and three other officials have been arrested over allegations of corruption and abuse of office following a corruption expose rally at the district headquarters on Thursday.

The arrests were ordered by the Minister for Local Government, Dr. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, following complaints raised by Buliisa District LCV Chairperson Atuhaire Wandera Twari.

The four officials initially arrested are Prof. Musinguzi, Acting District Health Officer Titus Sabiiti, District Education Officer Tyson Kasangaki Kiiza, and District Water Engineer Moris Wekame.

The allegations against the officials include extortion in health facilities, the alleged sale of jobs, misuse of government funds, irregular promotion of 22 nursing officers without corresponding salary enhancements, and mismanagement of fuel allocated to the district ambulance.

Wandera also accused district officials of failing to properly implement and account for government programmes, saying the alleged irregularities had affected service delivery.

While ordering the arrest of the Acting District Health Officer, Minister Balaam accused Sabiiti of failing to adequately monitor government health programmes and account for public funds.

Balaam said the official would be detained to assist the State House Anti-Corruption Unit with investigations.

The minister also ordered the arrest of Prof. Musinguzi over the alleged release of funds to CMD Investments Limited despite delays in completing Kihungya Seed Secondary School.

The government awarded the company a contract in 2021 to construct the school, but the project remains incomplete.

The District Education Officer, Tyson Kasangaki Kiiza, was also arrested over allegations that he connived with the CAO and failed to report the matter to the Inspectorate of Government or the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.

District Water Engineer Moris Wekame was arrested over allegations of misappropriating more than 114 million shillings meant for extending piped water in Butiaba Town Council.

Balaam orders arrest of 10 more officials

Meanwhile, Minister Balaam directed police to arrest 10 other district officials over alleged irregularities in the management of public affairs.

Those named are Senior Procurement Officer Ronald Asiimwe; District Service Commission Secretary Chris Joselyne; District Service Commission Chairperson Peter Kyaligonza; Chief Finance Officer Moses Wandera; District Natural Resources Officer Bernard Tugume; Wanseko Primary School Head Teacher Richard Mugisa; District Service Commission member Robert Businge; and Garasoya Parish Chief Ivan Muhumuza.

The minister’s directive brings the total number of officials targeted for arrest to 12, based on the four initial arrests and the eight additional officials named in the directive.

Buliisa District Vice Chairperson Moses Businge acknowledged that corruption had affected service delivery in the district and appealed to the minister to intervene.

The four initially arrested officials were taken to Buliisa Central Police Station and detained to assist the Anti-Corruption Unit with investigations.

The allegations against the officials have not been proven in court, and the arrests do not constitute a determination of guilt.

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