By Our Reporter
In yet another exposé of deep-rooted corruption in local government, Sitakange Charles, the Assistant District Engineer for Civil Works in Mpigi District, has been charged with theft over the alleged embezzlement of 21,739 litres of fuel valued at UGX 242 million, funds meant for road maintenance projects under the UGX 1 billion government grant.
Sitakange appeared before the Mpigi Chief Magistrate’s Court and was remanded until July 22, 2025, as efforts intensify to arrest his alleged accomplice, Kyambadde Sam, the Acting District Engineer, who is currently on the run.
How The Scam Worked
According to investigators from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), working in conjunction with CID and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the two engineers inflated fuel requisitions for road projects and later colluded with fuel station managers to siphon off the surplus fuel.
To conceal the theft, the accused allegedly used registration numbers of grounded vehicles — including Tipper Reg No. LG 0002-082, which has not operated since 2022 — to falsely account for fuel worth over UGX 18.5 million. Additionally, vehicles from other departments and even some unregistered with the district were used to create fictitious accountability for the diverted fuel.
Investigators estimate that UGX 90 million was lost in this scheme through fraudulent documentation and forged usage logs.
Ghost Roads & Fake Reports
Worse still, the probe uncovered that entire roads were never worked on, despite official reports claiming otherwise. One such project — the Kyansoozi–Kampiringisa–Muyiira Road, budgeted at UGX 97 million — was completely abandoned, and the funds were allegedly embezzled.
“This is not just theft — it’s a betrayal of the people who rely on these roads for transport, trade, and access to essential services,” a senior SH-ACU official said. “Our investigations show deliberate manipulation and deceit at the highest levels of district engineering offices.”
This case follows closely on the heels of a similar corruption scandal in Busia Municipality, where officials were recently charged for mismanaging fuel under the same UGX 1 billion road maintenance grant.
The SH-ACU has now launched a nationwide crackdown targeting local governments suspected of abusing this critical infrastructure fund, citing a wave of complaints from whistleblowers, citizens, and civil society organizations.
“Corruption in service delivery at the district level is unacceptable,” said the SH-ACU in a statement. “We are expanding investigations across several districts where red flags have been raised.”
The scandal has sparked widespread outrage among residents of Mpigi, many of whom lament the state of their roads despite massive government allocations.
“They tell us road work is underway, yet potholes are everywhere,” said a boda boda rider in Mpigi Town Council. “Now we know why — the money was stolen!”
With Sitakange in custody and Kyambadde still at large, authorities have promised swift action and prosecutions. More fuel station managers and officials are expected to be summoned as the investigation deepens.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit is urging the public to report similar abuses, vowing that no one will be shielded, regardless of position or influence.
This latest arrest is a stark reminder that the fight against corruption is far from over — and that even in the shadows of small-town bureaucracies, the law will catch up.