Kabale District Loses Shs3bn to Ghost Workers, Balaam Says

What the report says

Kabale District has been accused of losing about Shs3 billion to payments for alleged ghost workers, according to Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi during an anti-corruption visit to the district. The Nile Post reported that the minister raised the claim at Kabale District headquarters while meeting local leaders, public employees and residents as part of his tour of the Kigezi sub-region. He said district officials had failed to stop fraudulent access to the government payroll and called for investigations and disciplinary measures.

Barugahara also used the visit to inspect Kabale Central Market and Kabale Taxi Park. At the market, traders complained about stall and shop management, and the minister said some people were illegally collecting rent while presenting themselves as landlords. He directed that traders should keep control of their businesses and said market operations should continue despite ongoing court disputes. At the taxi park, mechanics raised concerns about working conditions, prompting him to give Kabale Municipal authorities one week to respond.

The report said the minister accused unnamed district officials, as well as former Chief Administrative Officer John Asiimwe and former district chairperson Nelson Nshangabasheija, of involvement in the alleged misuse of public funds. He also said the problems had affected services in water, health and agriculture. During the operation, district engineer Januario Bagamuhunda was arrested, and other absent employees named in the probe were ordered interdicted pending investigations. The allegations had not been independently verified in the material provided.