Kole | A group of residents from Kole District has formally requested permission from the Inspector General of Police to conduct a peaceful protest concerning the alleged misuse of road equipment and funds allocated for road maintenance in the district.
The residents intend to present their petition, along with copies that are currently being circulated for signatures, to the Inspector General of Government, the Anti-Corruption Unit at the State House, the Ministry of Local Government, and the local Members of Parliament, among other relevant authorities.
One of the key points in their petition demands an explanation from the district leadership regarding the situation where road equipment, which sub-county leaders in Ayer sub-county were informed was undergoing repairs in Lira City, was instead discovered to be rented out for private purposes.
“We have repeatedly noticed that road equipment, when reported as being under repair, has been found engaged in private work elsewhere. We insist that all road equipment belonging to Kole District that is currently outside the district be returned immediately to address outstanding projects,” the petitioners assert.
Additionally, they are seeking clarification from the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kole District regarding the unaccounted sum of over 400 million Ugandan Shillings in road funds, including those from the previous financial year, despite the deteriorating state of both sub-county and district roads.
They are also calling for the Ministry of Local Government to transfer the CAO due to negligence and to initiate further disciplinary measures.
In their correspondence, they have requested that the acting District Engineer of Kole provide an explanation regarding the refund of over 100 million Ugandan Shillings in road funds, which he was instructed to return by the Inspector General of Government in a public notice issued in April 2023, as well as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report for the fiscal year 2020/2021.
Furthermore, they demand the appointment of a qualified engineer to serve in Kole District.
The Kole District Roads Committee has been assigned the responsibility of detailing the measures implemented to rectify the mismanagement of road funds within the district under their jurisdiction.
Additionally, the Resident District Commissioner of Kole has been requested to provide an account of the actions taken regarding the misuse and mismanagement of these funds.
Furthermore, the petitioners urge the Inspector General of Government and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to initiate investigations into the alleged misuse of road funds and equipment in Kole District.
Consequently, this letter aims to request your approval for a mutually agreed date within the first two weeks of November 2024, allowing the petitioners to formally submit their petition.
The Kole District Roads Committee has been assigned the responsibility of detailing the measures implemented to rectify the mismanagement of road funds within the district under their jurisdiction.
Additionally, the Resident District Commissioner of Kole has been requested to provide an account of the actions taken regarding the misuse and mismanagement of these funds.
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