By Swift Reporter
The Anti-Corruption Court has charged a senior engineer at Jinja City Local Government with abuse of office over the alleged irregular issuance of a building permit that resulted in the blockage of a community access road.
Obodha Alex Batambuze, the Senior Civil Engineer and Acting Building Control Officer of Jinja City Local Government, was arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday following investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
According to the prosecution, on December 8, 2023, Batambuze allegedly abused his office by irregularly issuing a development permit to Kakaire Kirunda Ali to construct a boundary wall on Plot 17B, Tabingwa Road in Jinja City.
Investigators allege that the permit was issued without following the required procedures and without obtaining approval from the relevant Building Committee.
The prosecution further alleges that the construction of the boundary wall subsequently blocked a community access road, affecting residents who relied on the route.
Batambuze’s case emerged during the ongoing “Expose the Corrupt” National Campaign, an anti-corruption drive led by Minister for Local Government Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi.
He was reportedly detained during the campaign’s tour of Eastern Uganda as authorities investigated allegations surrounding the controversial building permit.
Following the conclusion of preliminary investigations, Batambuze was arrested and formally taken to court to face the abuse of office charges.
The case forms part of ongoing government efforts to strengthen accountability within local governments and crack down on officials accused of abusing their positions in the execution of public duties.
The Anti-Corruption Court will now determine the next steps in the case as the prosecution proceeds with its evidence against the accused.
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