Kaboha
High levels of corruption and embezzlement are the two biggest challenges facing the central division of Fort Portal Tourism City according to Elizabeth Kengonzi the female councilor representing Rwengoma ward. The counselor claims that they are being frustrated by their colleagues to the extent that they no longer participate in monitoring and following up on resources meant for development.
She says that in the 2022-2023 financial year accounting officers failed to account for 100 million shillings that were collected from local revenue and unconditional grant.
More Scenarios Emerge
Another scenario involved One billion shillings which was remitted from the city account to the central division to work on roads. This money was misappropriated with no clear spending accountability.
Kengonzi says when she and others tried to inquire about the whereabouts of the said money, it resulted in her suspension for one month from the division executive where she served as secretary for gender community development production and environment.
The illegal sale of government lands like that one in Kabundaire mayor’s gardens which has been rescued, and Kijanjabi land opposite Buhinga Hospital among others. Other cases of fraud were witnessed during the beautification of greenbelts at Mpanga, Balya Road, and Bwamba Road among others.
The unfolding of all these and more scenarios has resulted in threats on councilors that have been criticizing corruption, embezzlement, and lack of accountability which is causing poor service delivery in the central division.
In 2022, Thomas Rabwoni the then town clerk north division and others were interdicted on charges of mismanaging and misappropriating government funds.
On December 3rd 2024, Richard Kagaba Ndora City Clerk, and Ben Mutooro Musinguzi the office assistant were arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala for corruption and issuing of illegal recruitment letters to 23 individuals into public service.
We were unable to get a comment from central division top officials by press time.
