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Road Fund suspends cash to Iganga Town
A man rides past part of the potholed Oboja Road in Iganga Town which had been earmarked for tarmacking this financial year. Suspension of funds puts a halt to plans to work on the road. PHOTO BY YAZID YOLISIGIRA
What you need to know:
Iganga Municipal Council secretary for works says they were expecting Shs700 million for the construction of five roads.
IGANGA- The Uganda Road Fund (URF) has suspended release of funds for road works to Iganga Municipal Council for alleged abuse of the previous financial releases.
The action was communicated on August 25 by the Uganda Road Fund executive director, Dr Michael Odong, in a letter to the Iganga Town Clerk, Mr Benon Yiga. The letter was copied to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, the Iganga Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and the mayor.
“Uganda Road Fund will with immediate effect withhold further disbursement of road maintenance funds until necessary safeguards are put in place,” Mr Odong’s directive reads in part.
Sources within the council revealed that Shs189m, which was disbursed in the first quarter of this financial year, had been diverted and paid to former Town Clerk Stephen Tusubira for legal costs he was awarded by court when he sued the council for unlawful removal from office.
The municipality secretary for works, Mr Bamu Lulenzi, described the URF action as unfortunate and said the council had been expecting to receive Shs700m for various road works on Obodha, Oboja, Kaziziko, Kyesimira and Gasemba roads.
He said the execution of these road works is now uncertain.
Iganga RDC Ramadhan Walugembe confirmed receipt of Dr Odong’s letter of suspending funding and said his office had been overwhelmed by complaints about abuse of funds for road works in the municipality. However, he said investigations were underway.
However, residents of the town led by Forum for Democratic Change chairman Hassan Muyinda accused the mayor, Mr Siraje Katono, of conniving with technocrats to embezzle funds meant for service delivery. The mayor denied the allegations.
“I have never connived with any technical officers to steal money. The problems in the town started when councillors moved to throw out the town clerk,” he said.
