KABALE– The former Chief Administrative officer for Kabale district, Edmond Ntimba and other Five heads of department at Kabale district local government have been released on Police Bond after having spent Four days in custody at Kabale central police station since they were arrested in connection to missing Ugx 289 million Parish Development Model (PDM) funds.
The released six including the District Commercial Officer Erasmus Natumanya, and Julius Mujuni, the District Chief Finance Officer, the former Kabale District Chief Administrative Officer Edmund Ntimba, who is now serving in Mitooma district, the District Community Development Officer Christopher Namara, the District Production, and Marketing Officer Beda Mwebesa and the district planning officer Boaz Kakuru were released on Police Bond on Tuesday at around 5:10 Pm after raising Ugx 120 Million of the Ugx 289 Million they allegedly swindled.
They were arrested on Friday- last week after failing to explain the whereabouts of the said money during an impromptu meeting about the progress of the PDM program in the district organized by Joveline Kalisa Kyomukama, Deputy National Coordinator MPD project in the Ministry of Local government.
The accused signed a police bond but were hesitant to get out of Police custody fearing Journalists to capture and interview them. They later disguised not to be identified as they moved out of police cells and boarded one of the Kabale district local government vehicles wearing helmets.
ASP. Elly Maate, the Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson says the accused were bonded following an agreement that was reached on between them and the complainant.
CUE IN……MAATE……ON BOND RR/ENG//
The Deputy National Coordinator for Parish Development Model, Joveline Kalisa Kyomukama confirmed to our reporter that the accused have been released on Police Bond after raising the money they agreed on to pay. Kyomukama said that they also committed to pay the remaining balance in a period of Five days from Tuesday.
The speaker for Northern Division council in Kabale Municipality Hillary Gumisiriza, seconded the arrest saying that government should be strict at monitoring and supervising the implementation of it’s programs if it is to fight increased corruption among civil servants.
CUR IN……….GUMISIRIZA ON CORRUPTION …RR/ENG//
In February, the government wired Ugx 400 million to the Kabale district account meant for parish Savings and Credit Cooperative Society in sub-counties.
According to the terms, the district officials were ordered not to withdraw the money until the government issues fresh guidelines for proper use. But however, the district staff disbursed only Ugx 111 million.