Mpigi: Locals Blame Retarded Development On Funds Misuse By Gov’t Officials

Residents of Kiringente in Mpigi district have accused government officials for misusing public funds that are meant to solve districts’ problems which has led to retarded development.

While attending a public Baraza that was organized by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) yesterday, Mpigi residents revealed that government officials had made it a habit to swindle government funds especially those that were meant to improve on the infrastructures such as roads; solve water problems and also develop the education sector of the district

The Baraza was meant to reflect on how government programs were run by the civil servants and how the civil servants conducted them selves

However to the dismay, residents noted that the district officials had turned government developmental projects as a means of satisfying their own person desires and not for the good of the district

One of the residents accused the officials in the district of over stating the costs of the project a thing they as residents of Mpigi district tried to witness

It was at this moment that the District Education Officer (DEO) also revealed that they had purchased students desks at Shs190, 000, inclusive of tax a thing that continued to annoy the already angered residents

Residents accused the DEO of only being interested in making accountability and not the quality of the work

“A desk can cost as much as Shs 90,000 and or Shs 100,000 depending of the material of timber used by the carpenter,” one of the residents revealed

Residents also noted that while they were availed with adequate information about the district finances at the district headquarters, the problem of the district has always come with accountability something that’s   has for long been puzzling

Mpigi district is currently faced with a lot of challenges when it comes to access clean and fresh water a program that was also sabotaged by some government officials who were meant to contract boreholes for the district but instead over stated the price at Shs 2400000 and yet the boreholes didn’t even function

More dark secrets were also revealed in the agricultural sector that is believed to be the back born of the country as officials read out “ghost names” of residents that received supplementary from the district

These were meant to boost farming in the district thus bringing about the desired development

Rosemary Rwabasaija, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) however said that these were important issues and that the RDC’s office will inspect and investigate the validity of all what has been tackled by the residents of Mpigi

Minister in charge of Karamoja, Moses Kizige, also affirmed that this approach will help highlight and expose corrupt officials in government offices

“In many case government releases funds for different projects by the public will never know, this hinders accountability, he said

 Adding that the Baraza was meant to be an eye opener for the many funds that are released to the public and that each project will be revised and investigated to fit its cost