IGG finds Shs1b missing from Kasese Municipality coffers

Close to Shs1 billion is reportedly missing from Kasese municipal coffers, according to sources in the municipal council.
The money was meant for the construction of the administration block for the urban authority. Kasese town was elevated from a town council to a municipal status a year ago.

“Shs1 billion had been realised by the time a separate account was opened for the project. Some of this money was what we got after selling off a number of plots on Dr Henry Bwambale Road,” an outgoing municipal councillor, Mr Gideon Black, said on Sunday.

Mr Black said the area that had been demarcated into plots was known as the greenbelt near the Kasese-Kilembe Road, stretching from the main Kasese town roundabout to Grace Cathedral.

According to Mr Black, the administration block was expected to cost Shs4.5 billion. He said government had promised to secure funding for the construction of the administration block on condition that the urban authority raises 10 per cent of the total cost in local revenue.
Mr Adonia Kapere Bwambale, the outgoing councillor for Kisanga Ward where the green belt is located, said 59 plots had been surveyed and sold at Shs15 million.

Mr Bwambale said the Inspector General of Government had two months ago found that Shs1 billion was missing on the account and had recommended suspension of the town clerk.

According to Mr Bwambale, the town clerk, Mr Wilson Musabe, had also asked for an early retirement which had been granted but later cancelled by the Ministry of Local Government.

The April 15 letter from the Ministry of Local Government, addressed to the Kasese chief administrative officer, reads: “The case is that….(the accused)…is allegedly implicated in the sale of plots within the municipality in a manner that lacked fairness and transparency thereby contravening Section 43[4] of the Local Government Act”.

The letter further reads: “In view of the above, we advise that you wait until this case is conclusively handled before you proceed with your request for voluntary retirement”. When contacted, Mr Musabe said: “The issue is not urgent. I have no time to talk about it”.

The outgoing mayor, Mr Cosmus Byaruhanga, admitted that the money had been diverted to other projects but said he did not know the details.
The news that the greenbelt had been sold to private developers aroused concern among the public and several NGOs, especially the Lions Club of Kasese, which had planted trees on the land.

The president of the Lions Club of Kasese, Mr Anyasio Kule, said: “We have tried to fight against the destruction of the greenbelt because we are the ones who planted the trees there and we have written complaint letters to various offices but we have not received any response yet.”