Sunday Rogers Bwanga, the speaker of Nakasongola district, has petitioned President Yoweri Museveni to extend his anti-corruption campaign to local governments, particularly in the former’s district.
Bwanga highlights the rampant corruption in various departments, especially within the District Service Commission and procurement sectors. In an interview, Bwanga expressed his concerns about the rising levels of corruption that are hindering the district’s development efforts.
“People and local leaders have filed several reports and concerns about wide-spread corruption that is harming the district’s development efforts,” Bwanga said.
He emphasized that failure to address these challenges jeopardizes the district’s prosperity and the well-being of its citizens. Bwanga’s call for action comes at a time when Ugandan media is rife with stories about corruption involving members of parliament (MPs). Recently, three MPs were remanded to Luzira prison on charges of corrupt conduct.
President Museveni has repeatedly promised this month to crack down on corrupt individuals within government departments, including the State House. Demonstrating his determination, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit led to the arrest of five MPs who are currently remanded at Luzira prison.
The Anti-Corruption court in Kampala remanded Michael Maranga Mawanda (Igara East), Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi (Elgon county), and Paul Akamba (Busiki county) on allegations of diverting public resources. Between 2019 and 2023, the trio, along with city lawyer Julius Kirya of Kirya Company Advocates and others who remain at large, reportedly planned to embezzle more than Shs 7.3 billion for their benefit.
The funds were intended to compensate the Buyaka Growers’ Cooperative Society in Bulambuli district for wartime losses. Joan Aciro, the chief magistrate, remanded them until July 9.
Additionally, the MPs are charged along with Leonard Kavundira, the ministry of Trade’s principal cooperative officer. However, Kavundira was not included on the remand list as he was not present when the charges were read.
This development comes just a week after two other MPs, Cissy Namujju (Lwengo Woman) and Yusuf Mutembuli (Bunyole East), were remanded to Luzira on various corruption accusations. In another significant move, the State House Health Monitoring Unit arrested the former Mulago national referral hospital executive director, Dr Bonaventura.
Source: The Observer
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