Buhweju district engineers interdicted over alleged misuse of road funds

What the report says

Buhweju District in western Uganda has interdicted two engineering officials over allegations tied to the use of road maintenance funds. According to The Independent Uganda, senior engineer Dicklus Twinamatsiko and assistant engineering officer Samuel Nkwasibwe were suspended with immediate effect after a special audit report raised concerns about how road project money for the 2024/2025 financial year was handled.

The report, cited in interdiction letters dated August 6, says Twinamatsiko received 30 million shillings for rehabilitation of the Kabuga-Rushambya-Ekikorijo road, but the work was not carried out as intended. District officials allege that the money was instead used on the Kisa-Matsyoro Road, even though that project had already been allocated separate funding. Nkwasibwe is accused of failing to complete rehabilitation on the Ndibarema-Kanshenbe-Kishungwe road after receiving 7 million shillings, with the audit reportedly finding only one kilometre of a planned four-kilometre stretch was done.

The district chief administrative officer, Fred Kalyesubula, said the findings amounted to misconduct and a breach of public service standards. He also said the officers had been asked to either return the funds or finish the work, but neither happened. The article says the interdictions were issued under Uganda Public Service Standing Orders and are meant to allow investigations to continue while the officers remain away from district offices unless summoned.

The case highlights wider scrutiny of local government spending on road projects in Uganda, where special audits are increasingly used to check whether public funds are used as intended.