The Chairperson Kaberamaido District local Government and the district Engineer have engaged into a clash over the unlawful eviction of Road equipments from the road works.
It is reported that the matter cropped up after the district Engineer Francis Ewayu wrote a letter to the chief Administrative officer Kaberamaido on the diversions of fuel apportioned for the road works, vandalism of government equipment and diversion of use of government Road construction equipment for Ochero – Akampala Road (16.6)km.
This website finds it that Kaberamaido district local Government received a total of Forty million (40,000,000#) shillings from Uganda Road fund in the fourth quarter of the financial year 2022/2023 for emergency mechanized routine maintenance of the Ochero Akampala Road above.
The department of works commenced the works on the said road on the 30th day of June 2023 of which according to Ewayu, work was progressing well though with a few challenges of rain and equipment breakdown.
On the 18 July, 2023 the district motor grader and the wheel loader were fueled to full capacity, unfortunately the motor grader with registration no.UG 1988W developed a problem with the tire during the works hence interfering with normal works as the technician was called to mend the grader’s tire.
On the 20 July 2023, the department managed to access a technician to work on the said tyre so that work could continue however Ewayu in his letter reported that unfortunately the lock for the rim of the motor grader UG 1988W jumped out during inflation of the tyre and got weakened.
It is alleged as the department was in consultation on how and where to get the said rim lock replacement of the motor ring on 21 July 2023, we found the district mechanical Engineer, Mr Emau Denis and the district grader operator Mr. Eculu sunde peter in the district works yard Removing the two front tyers of the CHANGLING Moto grader registration No.LG0001-039, When asked on what they were doing, they responded that they were instructed by the district chairperson and the chief Administrative officer to remove the two tyers and fix them on the KOMATSHU motor grader which was being used at the Ochero Akampala emergency road work site.
The said officers according to Ewayu proceeded with tyres and fixed them on the KOMATSHU motor grader above and drove the grader away with the fuel full to capacity meant for the emergency works on the Ochero Akampala Road works still in it’s tank,The said KOMATSHU motor grader filed with the two tyres and the said fuel still inside was then moved from the Ochero Akampala emergency road works to kalaki- primary school/ secondary school Raod which was a private work for opening of road in preparation for a Archbishop’s visit.
While the said Ochero – Akampala emergency road works still remain pending the said equipment above and the vibronic roller registration no.UG 2386w have been relocated further to Kalaki district local Government yard to do works for the district, pending the Kaberamaido incomplete works, more so without the fuel bought with the Kaberamaido district funds.
“The use of the equipment on private work does not only delay government work schedules but it is highly illegal as government equipment is meant do only do the government work”, the Engineer Mr. Ewayu said.
He also claimed that such a scenario jeopardizes the functions and life of the equipment but also a leads to vandalism of government property and may facilitate fraud and corruption
Mr. Ewayu in his letter does not only notify Chief administrative officer of the conflict between the district engineer and the district Chairperson, but also informs his him that the Engineer’s office will not be held liable for any loss of equipment parts on for fouler to complete the section of the Ochero -Akampala Road that was due to completion in three days had the above diversion of equipment and fuel and vandalism of equipment above not taken place.
The district Engineer Mr Ewayu in his letter copped to the District Chairperson, Resident District Commissioner, Inspector General of Government IGG, District Police Commander, District Internal security Officer, Officer incharged of criminal investigation Department, criticizes the Kaberamaido district Chairman Victor Rex Ekesu for being the master mind behind the fraudulent actions.
Victor Rex Ekesu the LC.5 Chairperson Chairman Kaberamaido district.
However in his response, Ekesu refuted all the allegations attached to his name and said that him as an individual does not even take charge of the equipment, however he puts service delievery to the people on his frontline.
“I confirm receiving the letter, this is an indicator that most of our own sons are not doing the best to help our people, I promised not to give jobs to Kumam’s children in Kaberamaido District local Government because of the spirit of being corrupt in their offices”, he said.