Kisoro District Councilor Arrested as State House Investigates Alleged Fraud
By Kampala Post Reporter
State House Anti-Corruption Unit chief Lt Col Edith Nakalema maintains Government wants only genuine claims for the supply of tea seedlings in Kisoro District paid, as she investigates alleged fraud.
“We want the genuine claims to be paid. Payments have been delayed because of the fake claims. We shall arrest the thieves. There are reports of collusion between officials of Kisoro District and NAADS to defraud Government of Shs7.3 billion in false claims,” she said.
Lt. Col. Nakalema made the remarks on Wednesday at Kisoro District Main Hall where she addressed stakeholders/ claimants for the supply of tea seedlings in the district. She is leading investigations into complaints of non-payment of Shs7.3billion to tea nursery bed operators. The claims date back from 2015 to-date.
She says the joint visit of the Anti-Corruption Unit and NAADs had been made to the area from 15th to 16th April 2019 to establish facts on the ground. She noted that anomalies in the claims involving nursery bed operators were detected in the 6 Sub-Counties of Chali, Nyakabumule, Nyabwishenya, Musoora, Nyasubuye and Busanza. She revealed that there were inflated numbers of seedlings allegedly supplied, on top of ghost gardens and that attempts have been made to effect payments through non-existing tea nursery bed operators.
She said her investigation seeks to ascertain how procurement process was done and how the amount of money to be paid had been arrived at. She demanded that the nursery bed operators should explain the inconsistencies in the claims She emphasized that Operation Wealth Creation and NAADS officials must also explain the facts pertaining to the claims, since only 50% of the claims had been settled. She directed NAADS, Operation Wealth Creation, District officials and extension workers to make police statements. She particularly directed Charles Byaruhanga of Garuga Group and Kisoro District LC5 Chairman, Abel Bizimana to report to Police in Kampala.
Meanwhile during the deliberations, the Police arrested James Agaba who is a District Councilor for attempting to block the ongoing investigations and for being unruly during the exercise. The Executive Director of NAADS, Dr. Samuel Mugasi, said the goal was to eliminate thieves and pay the genuine claims.
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