The Territorial Police in Central Uganda’s Mubende District have arrested three local government officials on allegations of abuse of office and neglect of duty.
The individuals in question are John Baptist Muzibira, District Engineer; Kamya John Birungi, Civil Engineer; and Ssendikadiwa Vito Bosco, Acting District Health Officer.
Their arrest follows the mishandling of UGX 33 million designated for expanding a maternity ward at Kibalinga HCIII, raising serious concerns about the state of healthcare infrastructure in the district.
According to preliminary investigations, it is alleged that one Ssendikadiwa Bosco, the contract manager, and the two engineers as project supervisors failed to oversee the project effectively which resulted in incomplete construction and subpar work on the maternity ward extension and waiting shed at Kibalinga Health III, leaving patients dissatisfied and compromising healthcare delivery.
Dr George Ndagijimaana, in charge of Kibalinga Health Centre III, acknowledged that the unsatisfactory state of the maternity ward has led to a significant decline in women seeking services at the facility.
Joelia Nakiyovu, a patient, expressed her discomfort with the ward’s condition, highlighting issues like poor construction quality, excessive coldness at night, and mosquito infestation.
Mr Richard Nsenga, a councillor for Kibalinga Sub-county, welcomed the arrest of the officials, reflecting community discontent over the mismanagement of public funds and the resulting healthcare challenges faced by residents. Other women in the area shared their struggles of having to travel long distances in search of adequate medical care due to the inadequacies at Kibalinga Health III.
As investigations progress, Mr. Emmanuel Bunya, SHACU media coordinator, confirmed that the officials would be charged with neglect of duty.
He emphasized that Ssendikadiwa, designated as the project manager, failed to supervise the work adequately, leading to the current situation at the healthcare facility.
“The trio remains detained at Mubende Central Police Station, awaiting the completion of investigations before facing legal proceedings. This development underscores the critical need for accountability and transparency in managing public resources, particularly in vital sectors like healthcare, to ensure quality services for all citizens,” said Mr. Emmanuel Bunya.
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