Mbarara boda boda chairman held over Shs100m

Mr Rogers Nimusiima, the association’s disciplinary committee chairperson, accused Mr Muhwezi of failing to provide accountability for the funds.

Police in Mbarara District have arrested the chairperson of Mbarara Municipality Boda boda Movement Association, Mr Ben Muhwezi, for allegedly misappropriating a Shs112m donation from President Museveni.

Mr Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi region police spokesperson, on Tuesday said the association, which started in 2014, was given the money in 2015.

Mr Kasasira said the association, comprised of 64 members, reported a case at police in September last year and general inquiries file was opened until they got enough evidence to pin Mr Muhwezi and some executive members.

“We had to first get evidence and right now we have enough evidence to take them to court. The complainants are also readily available and we have enough witnesses on the file,’’ Mr Kasasira said.

Mr Rogers Nimusiima, the association’s disciplinary committee chairperson, accused Mr Muhwezi of failing to provide accountability for the funds.

“He failed to lay [accountability] to the members and he kept playing tricks until we decided to take the matter to the Rwizi region police commander,” Mr Nimusiima said.

He claimed Mr Muhwezi opened an association account in Post Bank without consent from the members and acquired loans.
"Whoever asked about money would be chased away and he only remained with six members,’’ he added.

However, while at the police headquarters on Tuesday, Mr Muhwezi said he used the money for members’ benefit.

“I was never given money to ‘eat’ but rather money to develop people and we are still giving people motor cycles. When people became many, we acquired a loan because Shs100m only buys 20 motorcycles since 20 motorcycles are bought at Shs90m. So we worked for them and we have the motorcycles, including all the receipts for whatever we did,’’ he said.

Mr Muhwezi also acknowledged getting loans from Post Bank but insisted that the money was got through right procedures.

“The loan we acquired from Post Bank was to give people motorcycles. At first we got Shs300m, we used it to buy motorcycles and in the second phase, they gave us Shs1b. We also used it to buy motorcycles and now they gave us Shs3b to give people motorcycles and we serve the whole region from Kyegegwa up to here (Mbarara) and on that Shs3b, we have returned Shs1.5b. We have every record of the money, including the memorandum of understanding with Post bank,’’ Mr Muhwezi said.