Concerns have emerged in Mbale City over a directive by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Mr Ben Kumumanya, ordering the Mbale City Town Clerk to interdict the Principal Civil Engineer, Eng. Edson Kasaata and three others, over alleged misconduct.
The directive follows concerns raised during a meeting convened in Mbale by the Minister of local government, Balaam Barugahara on his efforts of fighting corruption and exposing the corrupt crack down targeting local government officials across the country.
In a letter addressed to the Town Clerk, the Permanent Secretary said Eng. Kasaata and other officials face allegations of gross negligence of duty, abuse of office, mismanagement of public resources and possible financial impropriety.
The letter states that the alleged mismanagement of public resources affected service delivery in Mbale City and directed that administrative action be taken in accordance with the law.
However, sources familiar with the matter questioned the decision to interdict Eng. Kasaata, arguing that some of the projects under investigation were implemented when he was reportedly away from duty because of ill health.
According to the sources, the projects include the Nakaloke–Namagumba Road, the Doko–Namatala Road and bridge project valued at Shs180 million, and the Nankusi–Namakole Road project valued at Shs90 million. They claimed the projects were supervised under the Northern City Division but not by Kasaata the city engineer.
Our sources further alleged that the city abattoir project, was implemented under the Industrial City Division but not under the supervision of the city engineer.
"At the time these projects were being implemented, Eng. Kasaata was seriously ill and spent long periods in and out of hospital. He is being blamed for activities that were outside his supervision," one source, who requested anonymity because they are not authorised to speak on the matter, said.
They appealed to Mr Balaam and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to continue investigating the matter to establish individuals responsible before disciplinary action is concluded.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the Ministry of Local Government, Mbale City authorities and Eng. Kasaata were unsuccessful by press time.
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