The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Buhweju, Uganda | URN | Buhweju District senior engineer Dicklus Twinamatsiko and an assistant engineering officer, Samuel Nkwasibwe, have been interdicted over allegations of misappropriating public funds and failing to execute road projects funded during the 2024/2025 financial year.
The officers were suspended from duty with immediate effect following findings contained in a special audit report that examined the implementation of several district road projects.
According to separate interdiction letters dated August 6, the audit found that Twinamatsiko received an advance of 30 million Shillings to rehabilitate the Kabuga-Rushambya-Ekikorijo road.
However, the report states that the works were never undertaken. Instead, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Fred Kalyesubula alleges that Twinamatsiko diverted the funds to work on the Kisa-Matsyoro Road, despite that project already having a separate budget allocation.
The alleged diversion of funds is at the centre of the accusations of misappropriation and financial misconduct. Nkwasibwe, the Assistant Engineering Officer, is accused of failing to complete rehabilitation works on the 4-kilometre Ndibarema-Kanshenbe-Kishungwe road despite receiving 7 million Shillings for the project.
The audit reportedly established that only one kilometre of the road was worked on, leaving three kilometres incomplete. The CAO says the findings amount to misconduct and a breach of the ethical standards governing public officers entrusted with government funds for project implementation.
The Special Audit Report also raised concerns over road works undertaken in Nsika Town Council during the 2024/2025 financial year, where Nkwasibwe is alleged to have failed to execute the assigned works.
Kalyesubula says he had previously engaged both engineers and directed them either to refund the money in question or complete the outstanding works, but neither option was implemented.
According to the interdiction letters, the officers neither reimbursed the funds nor completed the road projects despite repeated directives from the district administration. The interdictions were effected under Section F-S of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders, 2021, which provides for the suspension of public officers facing allegations that warrant investigation while safeguarding the integrity of public service.
During the interdiction period, the two officers have been directed to stay away from district office premises unless officially summoned. They have also been barred from leaving the country without the permission of the responsible officer while investigations continue.
When contacted for comment, Nkwasibwe confirmed receiving the interdiction letter but declined to respond to the allegations. Efforts to obtain a comment from Twinamatsiko were unsuccessful by the time of publication.
The interdictions come amid growing scrutiny of the management of public funds for road infrastructure projects by local governments, with authorities increasingly relying on special audits to identify irregularities and enforce accountability in the use of taxpayers’ money.
