BALAAM’S KIRYANDONGO RAID! Citizen Wants Shs25m Planning Cash, Shs15m Fuel & Alleged District Dirty Deals Probed

LOCAL Government Minister Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi has been challenged to “follow the money” during his visit to Kiryandongo District, with a concerned citizen calling for investigations into alleged procurement irregularities, expenditure and possible conflicts of interest involving the District Planner, Julius Balikagira.

In an open letter to the Minister ahead of his visit, the citizen raised a series of concerns touching on procurement, withholding tax, government vehicles, project monitoring, district assets and funds allocated to the Planning Department.

The writer, however, stressed that the allegations have not been independently verified and urged the Minister to secure official records and allow the evidence to determine whether any wrongdoing occurred.

“I am not asking you to believe these allegations simply because I have made them. I am asking you to investigate them,” the citizen wrote.

At the centre of the concerns are allegations that Balikagira may have been directly or indirectly involved in supplying goods and services to Kiryandongo District since around 2018.

The alleged transactions reportedly include catering services during the annual District Budget Conference, office equipment and other retooling items supplied to different district departments.

The letter also raises questions about television screens and DSTV decoders reportedly supplied to the offices of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), LCV Chairperson and the district reception.

The citizen wants investigators to establish who owned the companies allegedly involved, who submitted quotations, who evaluated the bids, who approved the procurements and who certified delivery and authorised payment.

The writer argues that the key issue is whether a serving public officer was, directly or through companies associated with him, doing business with the institution where he held public office.

Another major issue raised is approximately Shs25 million reportedly allocated to the Kiryandongo Planning Department during the current quarter.

The citizen claims the money was part of additional funding for Planning Departments and wants the Minister to establish how the money was spent and whether all the activities it was intended to support were undertaken.

The requested probe includes examination of the approved work plan, requisitions, payment vouchers, bank transactions, suppliers, beneficiaries, activities undertaken and accountability documents.

“The simple question is: Where did the approximately Shs25 million go?” the citizen asks.

The Minister has also been asked to examine an alleged Shs15 million fuel requisition linked to the District Planner’s vehicle.

According to the letter, Balikagira is currently on about 40 working days of annual leave, but allegedly retained the department vehicle.

The citizen wants authorities to establish who authorised the vehicle’s use, who has been driving it, the journeys undertaken and whether the fuel expenditure can be supported by official records.

The letter calls for examination of the vehicle logbook, fuel records, requisitions and approvals.

The citizen has further raised questions over approximately Shs30 million reportedly requisitioned for monitoring government projects.

The Minister is being asked to establish what projects were monitored, who conducted the monitoring, who authorised the expenditure and whether field reports exist to support the spending.

The letter argues that if the expenditure was legitimate, the documentary trail should demonstrate it.

The concerned citizen has also asked the Minister to scrutinise alleged recurring expenditure of about Shs6 million every December associated with the Planning Department.

The writer does not claim that the expenditure is automatically unlawful but wants officials to establish whether it was properly budgeted, authorised, spent for legitimate public purposes and fully accounted for.

The letter further calls for an examination of possible withholding-tax compliance on transactions allegedly involving the District Planner or companies said to be connected to him.

The citizen wants the district’s payment records reconciled with URA records to establish the amounts paid, applicable tax obligations, amounts withheld, tax certificates issued and whether the money was remitted.

The identity and beneficial ownership of the suppliers should also be established, according to the letter.

The Minister has also been asked to physically inspect television screens and DSTV decoders reportedly supplied to the district offices.

The citizen claims the equipment allegedly worked for about five months before becoming non-functional.

The proposed investigation would establish how much was paid for the equipment, who supplied it, its specifications, whether procurement procedures were followed, whether the equipment was inspected before payment and whether warranties were provided.

Questions have also been raised about the age and condition of the district reception desk, which the writer claims appears considerably older than its reported purchase date.

Rather than immediately confronting the officials named in the allegations, the citizen wants the Ministry to first secure the documentary evidence.

The proposed approach includes comparing district payment records with bank records, URA records, procurement documents, supplier records, vehicle logbooks, physical assets and approved work plans.

The citizen also suggested involving oversight institutions such as the Auditor General and Inspectorate of Government, where necessary.

“Do not begin by asking the officer concerned to explain everything. First secure the documentary evidence. Then examine the transactions. Then obtain explanations. Then determine responsibility,” the letter states.

The writer emphasised that the allegations should not be treated as proof of wrongdoing, saying an independent investigation could clear the officials concerned if the claims are unfounded.

The concerns come as Minister Balaam continues his public-sector accountability and anti-corruption campaign, putting the spotlight on the management of public resources at local government level.

The citizen argues that Kiryandongo residents deserve to know whether public funds are being used economically, transparently and for their intended purposes.

The letter concludes with a direct appeal to the Minister:

“HON. MINISTER, PLEASE FOLLOW THE MONEY IN KIRYANDONGO.”

It calls for the books, procurement records, tax records, vehicle logbooks and physical assets to “speak” before any conclusions are reached.

The allegations contained in the letter have not been independently verified. The concerned officers and Kiryandongo District authorities would be entitled to respond to the claims and provide relevant records.

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