At least four senior officials attached to Rubanda District Local Government are secretly negotiating a deal with the government to refund over Shs 200 million of misappropriated funds, in a desperate bid to avoid prosecution.
According to confidential sources and investigations conducted by our reporter, the guilty officials have been lobbying powerful figures within government circles to protect them from facing justice.
The implicated officials include Rubanda District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Alex Kwizera, Senior Procurement Officer Medard Asiimwe, Production and Marketing Officer Benon Kahangi, and Chief Finance Officer Livingston Natukunda. These officers allegedly conspired to siphon taxpayer funds between 2023 and 2024. The funds were meant for key developmental projects including micro-scale irrigation systems, apiary demonstration farms, and other production department activities aimed at transforming the local economy.
Investigations conducted by this publication reveal that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) became aware of the gross misuse of funds after an exposé by our reporters earlier this year. The CID quickly swung into action, interrogating the four suspects both at the district level and later in Kampala between July and August this year. Upon realizing the noose was tightening, the officials allegedly held secret meetings in the CAO’s office in Rubanda District and plotted to seek a repayment deal to avoid legal repercussions.
Remorseful but Desperate: The Plot to Escape Prosecution
When confronted by the CID, the officials reportedly admitted to their crimes, expressed remorse, and begged for leniency. They begged to repay the stolen funds and immediately began lobbying senior government officials, seeking their intervention to prevent their case files from being submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Sources indicate that these lobbying efforts targeted none other than the Chief of CID, Maj Gen Tom Magambo, urging him to bury the case files or, at the very least, delay prosecution.
The suspects also allegedly lobbied the office of Jane Frances Abodo, the Director of Public Prosecutions, through powerful government officials, to ensure that they never appear in court. This underhanded maneuvering, if successful, would allow the officials to escape the legal consequences of their actions entirely.
Despite CID wrapping up investigations over two months ago, there has been no action taken against the suspects. The silence has fueled widespread speculation that their high-level lobbying may have succeeded, as the matter has seemingly stalled.
Kahangi: The Mastermind of a Multi-Million Shilling Fraud
Benon Kahangi, the Production and Marketing Officer, is believed to be the mastermind behind the scheme. As the focal person for the misappropriated projects, Kahangi reportedly forged documents, including signatures from district leaders, and falsified goods received notes to create a trail of fake paperwork to justify the misuse of funds. When the forgery came to light, Kahangi brazenly told his juniors, “This is my time to eat; yours will come.”
Kahangi’s role in the scandal was so egregious that he was interdicted from his duties as soon as the Inspectorate of Government (IG) began investigating. Yet, shockingly, Kahangi was reinstated to his position after six months due to a technicality in public standing orders, allowing him to return to office despite the damning evidence.
Natukunda and Asiimwe: The Enablers
The district’s Chief Finance Officer, Livingston Natukunda, was also deeply involved in the misappropriation. As the official responsible for authorizing payments, Natukunda allegedly rubber-stamped the release of funds, fully aware that Kahangi lacked the necessary documentation. Natukunda, it is said, turned a blind eye to the glaring irregularities and chose to facilitate the fraud.
Medard Asiimwe, the Senior Procurement Officer, played an equally dubious role by overseeing the procurement of goods and services without following proper procedures. According to investigators, Asiimwe bypassed all necessary procurement stages and failed to produce required documents to justify the transactions. In a bid to cover his tracks, Asiimwe reportedly forged minutes from the Contracts Committee, further implicating himself in the scandal.
Kwizera: The Silent Overseer
Chief Administrative Officer Alex Kwizera, who should have been the watchdog overseeing all district projects, allowed the fraudulent transactions to proceed unchecked. As the district’s top civil servant, Kwizera is accused of defending his officers despite knowing full well that no work had been done on the ground. His role in the cover-up has led many to question whether he too personally benefitted from the scheme.
The Fight to Retain Power
The stakes are high for these officials, as the Inspectorate of Government Act (2005), the Anti Corruption Act (2009), Public Service Act (2008) , Leadership Code Act (2002) mandates that any public officer charged of corruption in Court must step aside until the court clears their name. Fearful of losing their lucrative positions, the four have been scrambling to protect themselves from legal consequences. The potential fallout from their prosecution could not only see them stripped of their offices but could also permanently damage their reputations.
While their attempts to escape justice seem to have stalled legal proceedings for now, the public is watching closely.
As the investigation continues to gather dust in the corridors of power, one question remains: will justice be served, or will the corrupt officials continue to enjoy the fruits of their crimes, shielded by their high-level connections?
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