KAYUNGA, UGANDA: Authorities in Kayunga district have interdicted Eng. Jonathan Wazimbe, the district engineer over alleged authorisation of construction of non-existent classrooms.
Mr. Abdul Batambuze, the Kayunga Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) accuses Eng. Wazimbe of endorsing ghost projects and making payments when actual works have not taken place.
“You will also recall that time and again construction works have been certified for payment and actual payments made without works being undertaken,” the interdiction letter dated May 27, reads in part.
“A case in point was Nkokonjeru Primary School in Kitimbwa Sub County and Namalere Primary School in Galilaya Sub- County and you have severally certified works of this nature,” the letter further reads.
Although unspecified amount of money was paid to the contractor, classrooms at both schools were not constructed.
Eng. Wazimbe was also accused of certifying shoddy works in various schools under his watch and no action taken and payments to contractors were fully made.
“When it came to commissioning of these classrooms we discovered they need to be redone and not worth commissioning,” the CAO states in the letter.
The schools with shoddy works, according to the CAO include; Busaana Church of Uganda Primary School, Bulawula Primary School and Gayaza Primary School among many others.
“You may wish to know that your failure to perform your tasks adequately has led to quick deterioration of road works and schools thereby denying the public to appreciate the value for money,” Mr Batambuze adds.
The CAO said because of Eng. Wazimbe’s failures, he was left with no option, but to interdict him with immediate effect.
He said the engineer would during the course of the investigations receive half pay, as per the Public Standing Orders (2010).
However, Eng. Wazimbe refused to comment on the matter when contacted.
But Mr Batambuze told journalists on Tuesday that Eng. Wazimbe had earlier been taken before the district public accounts committee but failed to give satisfactory answers to the queries brought before him.
He also added that three other district officials in the registry department had been interdicted over gross misconduct.
-Fred Muzaale / DailyMonitor
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