Masindi RDC, Godfrey Nyakahuma (standing) and LC 5 chairman, Cosmas Byaruhanga (in blue jacket)
The Masindi Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Godfrey Nyakahuma, has petitioned State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to investigate the purported diversion of Shs198 m allegedly by district leaders.
Nyakahuma told the press on Wednesday that he received a report from the district Chief Financial Officer (CFO), David Baguma, alleging that the then Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Christopher Okumu diverted funds that were meant to facilitate extension workers
He said the funds were diverted during the 2017/18 Financial Year.
The CFO’s report dated September 28, 2018, highlights how the conditional grant was spent:
The RDC said the report states that out of the Shs198 m, only Shs57 m was disbursed to the extension workers while another part of the funds was used to purchase fuel for the executive and facilitate council and sectoral committee meetings.
The rest was used to pay LC 1 and LC 2 chairpersons’ ex-gracia allowances. Nyakahuma wants the two ombudsmen to investigate the matter find out who used the funds and for what purposes before legal action is taken against the culprits.
When contacted, the Masindi district LC 5 chairman, Cosmas Byaruhanga, described the allegations as false and baseless.
He said: “The matter in contention had neither been indicated anywhere nor surfaced in the district audit reports. This is false and baseless”.
However, Byaruhanga said he was impressed by Nyakahuma’s move adding that it would help unearth other government funds that could have been misappropriated.
