Bushenyi Citizens Demand for Accountability Over Gross Mismanagement of Funds for Kabushaho Seed School Play Ground

NGO Forum — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 11:26:17 +0000

In an extraordinary show of community resolve, the citizens of Bushenyi District have come together to demand accountability for the alleged gross mismanagement of funds meant for the development of the Kabushaho Seed School playground. This bold move was spearheaded by the Western Ankole Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), a coalition of local civil society organizations advocating for transparency and good governance.

The controversy centers around allegations that funds allocated for the construction of a playground at Kabushaho Seed School have been grossly misappropriated, leaving the project incomplete and the community disillusioned. According to reports, the project has stalled despite substantial sums of money being disbursed to facilitate its completion.

The citizens, who have grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of accountability from district authorities, took matters into their own hands. Earlier today, a large group convened at the district offices, chanting slogans and holding placards demanding justice for the school and the children it serves. Their efforts culminated in the citizens initiating a citizen’s arrest of the Bushenyi District Engineer, Mr. Mbonimpa Barnabas, who they allege is at the center of the mismanagement scandal.

The engineer was handed over to the police to record a statement and assist with investigations. Speaking to the press, WACSOF representatives expressed their disappointment with the district leadership’s failure to safeguard public resources, emphasizing that this action was a last resort after repeated attempts to address the issue through formal channels were ignored.

Parents and community members have expressed outrage, pointing out that the incomplete playground has deprived students of a space to engage in physical activities, which are vital for their holistic development.

This incident has sparked wider conversations about the misuse of public funds in Bushenyi and beyond. Civil society organizations are now calling for stronger systems of accountability and greater community involvement in monitoring public projects to prevent similar cases in the future.

The citizens of Bushenyi have vowed to follow up on the investigation and ensure that all those involved are held accountable. They have also demanded the immediate resignation of the District Engineer and completion of the Kabushaho Seed School playground project, urging the government to deploy independent auditors to review all district-level projects for potential irregularities.

Below is their Statement

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Citizens of Bushenyi District are concerned that there is gross mismanagement of public funds
meant Kabushaho Seed School Playground, Kanyamurera Seed School Project and 1.5billion
meant for rehabilitation and maintenance of road funds in the district. Some of these cases of
mismanagement are briefly explained here below:

Kabushaho Seed School Playground project:
On 16th April 2024, Bushenyi District Local Government entered into an Agreement with Khalisa
Developments Ltd to execute works/construct a playground at Kabushaho See school in Bumbaire
sub county at a tune of UGX339,543,643= for a period of 2 months and 15 days. The contract
period elapsed long ago, but the playground is far from being completed. Information available
indicates that much of the money has been spent with just UGX93,000,000= remaining. No
answers are being provided at why the project has stalled and when it is going to be completed.
What is publicly known is that there was connivance and sharing of money at the close of the
2023/2024 financial year between these parties involved. Money, indeed, exchanged hands, and
this must be explained in detail.
District Road Funds:
Bushenyi District receives colossal sums of money from the central government to maintain and
rehabilitate district roads. In addition, sub-counties also receive funds to maintain community
access roads. In the previous financial year, the district, received over 1.5billion shillings to
maintain roads. Seven months into the financial year, this money is not fully spent and roads are
not fully worked on. A number of sub-counties are still keeping on their accounts, money for
maintaining community access roads for about two financial years. This puts public resources at
risk of abuse and misuse by unscrupulous public officials. In the current financial year (2024/25)
the district has had to hire road equipment to deliver on current road works while the backlog for
the previous FY 2023/24 gets done. However, there is little information on what road works were
supposed to be executed in the previous financial year. Even if work was not done, no one would
actually know the truth. The shelving of critical information on the manner in which these road
projects are executed is worrying. There is need for disclosure so that this information helps
stakeholders monitor these projects and establish whether there is value for money. The demand
for accountability on how these resources are being used is urgent.
Kanyamurera Seed School:
The district received funds from government under the UGIFT project at a cost of
UGX3,539,713,816=. The contract was signed on 06.11.2022 to last for a period of 24 months after
signing of contract. The contract period elapsed with less than 75% of the works done and was
later extended to 5th February 2025. However, it seems to us that the work is behind schedule. Yet
so much money was paid out for little work being done. What was the purpose of paying more for
less? There is lack of transparency and accountability in the way this project is being managed.
The demands of the citizens are:

Information on these projects must be provided to enable citizens monitor the use of these
resources;
The Auditor General, IGG and PPDA and other accounatbility agencies are invited to conduct
audits of these project funds.
The district engineer Mr. Mbonimpa Kiiza Barnabas, the The DEO Mr. Williams Ahabwe and
the former CAO Mr. John Nyakahuma must provide answers to the very many unanswered
questions. Otherwise, action must be taken to bring these officers to book.
We demand the resignation of the District Engineer with immediate effect. He has become a
liability to this district.
Invesitagion should be done to establish all those who eat with the district engineer and bring
them to book.

Fulfilling the Promise: Navigating Gender Injustice in Uganda for Lasting Social Transformation

NGO Forum — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:10:10 +0000

As the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) reaches its midpoint, the critical need for gender equality has emerged with unprecedented clarity. Among the SDGs, gender equality stands as a cornerstone for achieving broader social, economic, and environmental objectives. Our latest Issues paper titled “Fulfilling the Promise – Navigating Gender Injustice in Uganda for Lasting Social Transformation” sheds light on the unique challenges and strides toward achieving gender parity in Uganda. This paper not only delineates the obstacles but also proposes actionable recommendations for stakeholders at all levels.

A Multi-Faceted Approach to Education and Youth Empowerment

The journey toward gender equality in Uganda begins with education. High school dropout rates present a significant barrier to this end, particularly among young girls. The government of Uganda, in collaboration with schools, families, and communities, is urged to fortify the social, emotional, and educational development of the youth. This includes the establishment of professional school counseling, mentorship programs, and continuous sensitization of parents about the importance of education. Special attention must be given to providing free and adequate menstrual hygiene management facilities for girls and enforcing policies against child labor and early marriages.

Enhancing Attitudes Towards Gender Justice

Improving societal attitudes toward gender justice and roles is crucial. The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, alongside civil society, should articulate the complexities of gender justice, promoting inclusivity and positioning both genders as allies in the pursuit of equality. This involves intensive public awareness campaigns to challenge stereotypes and promote a mindset change across all age groups. A nuanced approach is necessary to navigate cultural resistance effectively.

Data-Driven Policies and Intersectional Approaches

The establishment of a comprehensive resource by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and the Ministry of Gender for collecting and storing disaggregated gender data is essential. This initiative will close gender data gaps, enabling informed policy-making. Furthermore, all stakeholders must adopt an intersectional approach to gender justice, ensuring the well-being of women and girls through education, economic empowerment, and healthcare.

Economic Empowerment and Gender-Inclusive Policies

Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of economic empowerment programs is another critical step. These programs should be inclusive, allowing sustainable development. Additionally, targeted studies on gender challenges affecting both men and women are essential for a balanced gender perspective.

Legislative Reforms and Leadership

Addressing legislative gaps concerning women’s access to and ownership of property, including land, is imperative. The government and private sector must work together to reduce unemployment rates among urban women and motivate rural men to engage in agricultural activities. Furthermore, to attract more women into leadership and decision-making positions, gender quotas and training programs are recommended.

Addressing Unpaid Care Work and Gender Pay Gaps

The enactment of policies on unpaid care work is vital for balancing paid and unpaid care responsibilities. Such policies should advocate for shared household responsibilities and the provision of public services like childcare facilities. To narrow gender pay gaps, the introduction of a gender-neutral minimum wage and gender pay audits are necessary steps.

Access to Healthcare and Revisiting Affirmative Action

Ensuring women’s full access to healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health services, is of utmost importance. The government must develop innovative strategies to make these services more accessible and stigma-free. Lastly, the affirmative action policy requires reevaluation to determine areas needing adjustment, ensuring it does not inadvertently perpetuate inequalities.

In conclusion, the journey toward gender equality is intricate and challenging, yet with concerted efforts from all sectors of society, it is undoubtedly achievable. Read the Issues Paper.

Social Transformation – Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF)