BY ALEX BALUKU
The construction of the offices started in 2014, but stalled at the first floor due to lack of funds. Since then the municipal authorities has been sourcing funds in vain. The Construction was flagged off by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who also made a pledge of 80 Million but to date, the money has yet been wired to the Municipal account.
The multibillion two floor administration according to plan, is expected to be comprised of a council hall, committee rooms, different administrative offices including the mayor’s office.
Kasese Municipal Council received the transitional grant of 150 million shillings from the Ministry of Finance in the financial year 2016/2017 which was injected into the project.
However, a section of the Municipal Councilors has blamed the delays to cases of theft, corruption and nepotism.
Mr. John Siriwayo, the Secretary for works for Kasese Municipal Council and Councilor representing Railway ward, reported that the construction Materials for the administration block have been stolen since the inception of the project.
On 2nd January 2022, Dionysius Nyakairwa was arrested in the connection with the theft of building materials commonly known as mark spans for the administration block.
Upon reaching the police station, the suspect consented to have participated in the stealing of the building materials and quickly said that behind him were other people.
However in spite of pleading guilty, Nyakairwa was, the following day released on police bond and up to now, him and the other people he mentioned have remained un touched an act that has angered many including the Members of the Kasese Municipal Development Forum-MDF who tried to intervene. Read full story: https://rwenzoridaily.com/kasese-police-on-spot-for-releasing-a-theft-suspect/
Mr. Siriwayo believes the funds for the construction of the administration block was mismanaged under the hands of the then Municipal Leaders.
However, speaking to rwenzoridaily.com at his offices in an exclusive interview, the Kasese Municipal Town Clerk, Mr. Theo Tibihika, says that the Municipal local revenue was not sufficient to give a strong stride.
Tibihika who also added that a change in the economic landscape and COVID-19 effects had taken a toll on the financial resources of the Municipal Council, says that they have opted for another strategy to have the administration block completed.
He told this reporter that they were in thorough discussions with the central government and together studying the law on the private partnership to see how they can contract off the building to a private farm to take over the construction and finish the work and pay him (farm) later.
Commenting about the release of Dionysius Nyakairwa, the town clerk revealed that the Directorate of Public Prosecution advised them to put away the papers claiming that there was no case for the suspect who had pleaded guilty to be prosecuted.
So far, 1 billion has been used for the construction of the first un-completed floor, meaning that another 5 billion still needed to have the admin block completed.
