Angry Kooki leaders in Rakai have appealed to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to grant them an audience to present their case regarding accusations of corruption against their Resident District Commissioner( RDC) Sarah Kiyimba.
On Saturday, 21 June 2024, an online news website in Kampala ran a story wherein the former Nyendo Mukungwe MP candidate is reportedly being investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of Government(IGG) over several corruption allegations.
The petition to the IGG which is claimed to have been authored by a one Kemigisha Barbara accuses Kiyimba of among others, conniving with district leaders to siphon public funds. She alleges that the RDC has intentionally destroyed district roads equipment and replaced them with her own for which she exorbitantly charges the district at a whooping Seven Million shillings daily budget.
The RDC, according to the petition seen by this publication is also accused of demanding a fraction of the funds allocated to Rakai by the Central Government from the technical wing of the district at gunpoint.
Kemigisha who claims to be a resident of Kyalulangira thus wants the IGG to investigate and ultimately cause Kiyimba to be intersected, something that local leaders have bowed to go down fighting.
Mr Ssemanda Wangyi Elisa, the Chairperson of all LC3 Chairperson in the eleven sub-counties of Rakai has described the attack on Kiyimba as an attack on all the people of Rakai and called upon every citizen to step forward and defend their district. Mr Wangyi also said the allegations against Kiyimba must be coming from unscrupulous members in District who feel threatened by her zero tolerance to corrupt methods of work that have deprived many of easy money through corruption.
Wangi has threatened that should there seem to appear any likelihood for the “bad guys” to succeed in bringing down Kiyimba who he says has been a beacon of hope for Rakai which had stagnated for years, he is ready to lead a delegation to State House to seek audience with the President to save the face of Rakai.
Wangyi is the Chairman LC3 for Jango Sub county.
Just like his leader, Kyalulangira Sub County Chairman, Mr Kamushana Alex vows not to stay back in protesting against Kiyimba’s malicious fighters should need arise. He says he will gladly join other members to head to State House to address their concerns about Kiyimba before the Head of State. He describes Kiyimba as a complete human being who has always stepped forward in cleaning the rote in the district and he is not surprised she has become a target.
” To be honest with you, Rakai has never had an RDC like Kiyimba. She is unusually committed to the district and will go beyond the normal ways of fighting corruption and ensuring effective service delivery. It’s obvious the people he has been fighting are the ones behind these evil machinations.” Kamushana notes.
Ninsiima Brighton- the Kiziba Town Council Mayor has threatened to mobilise his fellow leaders to storm President Museveni’s State House to mitigate what he described as ” the impunity of the wrongdoers” who want to continue keeping Rakai behind through corruption.
He says that Kiyimba has opened their eyes and there will never be any more gaps for corrupt leaders to siphon public funds like was the case in the past. Ninsiima notes that even though Rakai has existed for over four decades, it’s always lagged in development due to unabated corruption by leaders. He speculates that those behind the malice are plotting to have Kiyimba moved from Rakai so that they can have a new RDC with whom they can negotiate to share the loot of public funds which the RDC has refused.
As for the Kibale Sub County Chairperson, Steven Lubega, Kiyimba has been a mother figure in attempting to unite the district leadership at various levels. He scoffed at allegations of pride and disrespect as not suitable shortcomings for Kiyimba who he says has been the most receptive leader in Rakai by far. He applauds her for fighting for all LC3 Chairpersons to begin getting their salaries which they had been denied.
Emmanuel Byamugisha of Ntantamuki wonders how a person who has solely redeemed Rakai from the abyss of corruption can be accused of the same vice. He notes the war on land grabbing where many vulnerable people have consolidated their right to legally occupy their lands, something he says could have attracted vengeful rage from culprits and their collaborators.
Like the LC3 Chairpersons, other district leaders such as the Chief Administrative Officer( CAO), Katushabe Beatrice, LCV Chairman, Emmanuel Kaggwa Ssekamwa, Vice Chairman LCV, Umar Ssebalinde, among others have joined forces to dismiss the allegations against Kiyimba, indicating that they are work of selfishness and self seekers.
