(Masindi) – Seven officials from the Masindi municipality works department have been detained by police over allegations of pouring salt into a municipal grader’s engine, potentially damaging equipment valued at UGX 800 million, essential for maintaining the town’s road infrastructure.
The incident, discovered over the weekend, raised alarm when an unnamed driver, who last used the grader, reported parking it without issues. Police from the Albertine region acted swiftly on intelligence led information and detained seven works department employees. These include machine operators and security personnel linked to the Masindi municipal offices. Their identities remain undisclosed as investigations are underway.
Albertine Police spokesperson Allan Hakiza stated that the arrested individuals are currently being held at Masindi Central Police Station. “The motive behind this act is yet to be understood, but they will face charges of vandalization upon conclusion of the investigation,” Hakiza said.
Masindi Municipality Mayor Ronald Businge Kyomuhendo, confirming the incident, stated that he learned of the sabotage on Monday morning from staff reports. “I went to cross-check and found it to be true. Thankfully, the engine hadn’t been started, sparing us further damage,” Kyomuhendo noted, expressing concern over possible internal conflicts within the works department as a potential cause.
In light of the incident, Mayor Kyomuhendo also highlighted security concerns within the municipality’s operations, acknowledging ongoing property losses. “We are considering installing CCTV cameras to strengthen security and curb such acts in the future,” he added.
Simon Peter Ochiti, head of the Criminal Investigations Department at Masindi Central Police Station, urged staff to come forward with any information that could aid the investigation, emphasizing the police’s commitment to uncovering facts. “We have collected samples for examination to support our investigation. Our aim is not to target individuals but to gather accurate evidence,” Ochiti said at the scene.
Deputy Resident District Commissioner Sanon Dhaala expressed disappointment over the alleged sabotage, stressing the difficulty of replacing such costly equipment. “This behavior reflects poorly on our government. If there are disagreements, they should not disrupt essential municipal services. I am also concerned about the lack of proper maintenance for this equipment; it is worrying that renting equipment is prioritized over repairing our own,” Dhaala added.
