Town clerk under probe over misuse of Shs160m

The Kayunga District authorities have ordered for a special audit into alleged misuse of about Shs162m public funds.
The Kayunga Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Benson Otim, yesterday said investigations were prompted by a written complaint from Mr Ahmed Ssenyange, the commercial officer of Kayunga Town Council.
Mr Ssenyange alleged that the town clerk, Ms Margaret Nansubuga, was involved in “gross” misuse of public funds.
The November 28 letter, which this reporter has seen, is also copied to the Resident District Commissioner, Ms Kikomeko Mwanamwoiza, and the district chairperson, Mr Tom Sserwanga.
Mr Ssenyange alleged that there is ineffectual service delivery.
A source within the town council told Daily Monitor that many other unnamed town officials are behind the complaints against Ms Nansubuga.
In his letter, Mr Ssenyange stated that on July 5, Kayunga Town Council received Shs162m from Umeme, the national power distributor, for property rates and the funds were accordingly allocated by the council for purchase of a garbage truck.
“But on July 10, Shs40m was withdrawn and on the same day more Shs20m was withdrawn and spent. On August 2, Shs18m was withdrawn and spent while on September 5, Shs5m was withdrawn and a balance of Shs78.6m was left out of a total of Shs162m,” the letter reads in part.
The letter further states that in 2017, Makerere University’s Walter Reed Project deposited Shs38m as payment for renting the Youth Centre, which funds were also misused.
He also questions Shs7m that was allegedly spent building a fence where impounded animals found loitering in the town are kept.
“I strongly recommend that funds wasted should be recovered and accountability be availed for proper management. I recommend that another officer be assigned to control and manage all town accounts for proper accountability,” Mr Ssenyange wrote.

The accused
Ms Nansubuga, however, dismissed the allegations, saying investigations would find her innocent.
“I have not yet received a copy of that letter, but I know that I did not misuse any funds,” she said.
Mr Otim said: “I have directed the district head of audit, Mr Joseph Muyinda, to take a special audit in the matter. The issues raised in the letter are critical and within two weeks, a report would be out.”
He said disciplinary action would be taken against the culprits.
Mr Muyinda said many other officials could be implicated in the saga.
This has reportedly caused panic among staff at the town council.
Ms Mwanamwoiza said she was waiting for the report so that a decision is made on the matter.

BACKGROUND
Misuse. The Shs162m caused a row between Kayunga Town Council officials after disagreeing on how to spend the funds acquired from property rates.
Conflict of interests. The town mayor, Mr Magid Nyanzi, suggested that the funds be used to buy a garbage truck while some councillors wanted it to be used to buy a piece of land on which the central market sits. However, the land in question is owned by a former town council councillor.