The Sheema District Roads Committee, led by Chairperson Dicksons Kateshumbwa, has initiated an investigation into the reported misappropriation of more than sh600 million allocated for road maintenance during the first and second quarters of the last fiscal year.
In the preceding financial year, Sheema had been allocated sh748 million for the upkeep of 32 kilometers of roads within the district. However, the committee reveals that only sh130 million was utilized, and an untraceable sh618 million remains unaccounted for in the district’s financial records.
During a Roads Committee meeting at the district headquarters on Saturday, January 20, chaired by Sheema Municipality MP Kateshumbwa, concerns emerged that the acting district engineer, Allan Mbaga, allegedly collaborated with Chief Finance Officer Martin Barigye to withdraw funds illicitly. Consequently, some roads were left without necessary maintenance.
In response to these allegations, Kateshumbwa instructed district officials to refrain from commissioning substandard roads to enable the committee to expose any subpar workmanship. Sheema Resident District Commissioner Prikeria Muhindo directed the engineer to adhere to the guidelines established by the Ministry of Works.
