Kabale District has lost 3 billion shillings through payments to alleged ghost workers, the Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi has said. The minister made the accusations during an anti-corruption meeting at Kabale District headquarters, where he met district leaders, government employees and residents as part of a tour of the Kigezi sub-region. He accused district officials of failing to prevent fraudulent access to the government payroll and allowing people who did not work for the district to receive government salaries.
During the meeting, the minister said workers who had obtained positions through fraud were continuing to receive government money under the watch of the Principal Human Resource Officer. He specifically accused former Kabale Chief Administrative Officer John Asiimwe and former district chairperson Nelson Nshangabasheija of involvement in the alleged misappropriation of public funds. The minister said the alleged abuse of office had undermined service delivery in water, health and agriculture. During the operation, district engineer Januario Bagamuhunda was arrested and taken into police custody, and the minister directed that other implicated employees who were absent be interdicted pending investigations.
The minister also addressed concerns at Kabale Central Market, where traders had raised issues about stall management. He found that some individuals were allegedly posing as landlords and collecting rent from vendors operating in market stalls, while others controlled multiple stalls or shops, contrary to restrictions that applied to the market. Barugahara directed that traders operating the stalls should retain control of their businesses without paying rent to individuals claiming ownership of the facilities. The mayor of Kabale Municipality, Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha, asked the minister to intervene in disputes involving individuals who had taken the council to court over market-related matters.
After inspecting Kabale Central Market, the minister proceeded to Kabale Taxi Park after mechanics complained about poor working conditions. His inspection on foot attracted crowds and disrupted traffic along the Kabale-Katuna road. Following the inspection, he gave Kabale Municipal authorities one week to address the concerns raised about the taxi park. The anti-corruption tour was intended to address alleged misuse of public resources and concerns about service delivery in local governments across the Kigezi sub-region, with plans to continue in Rubanda District.