KALUNGU.
Kalungu District councilors led by Mr Charles Kalyango have compiled a report asking the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to conduct thorough investigations into allegations that Shs 2.9billon meant for the construction of 21 schools and the district headquarters was misappropriated .
In their report dated February 1, 2025, the councilors indicated that in the financial year 2024/2025, Kalungu District received funding of Shs 2.6billion for construction of new classroom blocks and renovation of dilapidated school facilities in 21 government aided primary and secondary schools in the district. Also, the government released over Shs 320miilion as additional funding for the construction of Kalungu District headquarters, but the works are shoddy.
Mr Kalyango, a district councilor representing workers, revealed that the entire process for the construction and renovation of school facilities was mismanaged right from the appraisal of the project, the contractors procured were incompetent and also the cost was inflated.
He explained that a two classroom block with an office at Kiti-Kasana Primary School was renovated at Shs 44million while a similar building at Kabungo Secondary School with the same dimension whose renovation cost was inflated to a tune of Shs 132million. He also noted that the cost for renovation for a four classroom block at Kyagambiddwa Muslim Primary school was inflated to Shs230miilon.
Similarly , Mr Gerald Kigundu ,the district councilor representing Lukaya Town Council revealed in a report that they did their investigations and submitted the report to the IGG’s offices after they found out that the district education department with guidance from the Chief Administrative Officer’s office headed by Ms Rose Nalumansi instructed all head teachers in beneficiary schools to finance some works using their small school budgets.
‘’This was illegal to instruct head teachers to use their small budgets to renovate some structures and roofing yet full amount of the funds were already allocated to those schools. Where did some funds for renovation and construction of school facilities go?’’ he asked.
He has asked the IGG to do thorough investigations and take action against the corrupt district leaders who connived with the district staff to swindle funds meant for construction of 21 schools in the district and the district headquarters.
Over Shs 320miilion was allocated for the construction of Kalungu district headquarters’ structure , but the works are shoddy.
During her impromptu visit to Kalungu District headquarters March 6 , the deputy IGG, Ms Anne Twinomugisha was shocked to see shoddy works in all on going construction works . ‘’How come that construction for district headquarters has already reached the beam level and whose concrete ladders are shaking’’ she asked.
She tasked the district CAO [Rose Nalumansi] and the acting district engineer, Mr James Muhangi to explain why they failed to supervise the project and did all the work poorly.
The CAO told the IGG she transferred engineer Achilles Kiwanuka after realising that there shoddy work on site .
Ms Twinomugisha said it was not proper to just transfer Mr Kiwanuka , but needed to taken against him . She said her office is going to investigate the matter and action will be taken against whoever was involved in the shoddy works.
State minister for water, Aisha Ssekindi who is also the district woman legislator , said the poor construction works are caused by district councillors who fail to supervise projects and instead solicit bribes from the contractors who end up doing shoddy works.
“I ask the leaders to be transparent and ensure that there is value for money in every project being undertaken in our district,” she said .