First Deputy Prime Minister Rabbeca Kadaga has said she used the iron sheets picked from the Office of the Prime to facilitate repairs on a health center and a primary school in her constituency.
The former speaker of parliament was responding reports which implicate key government officials in a scandal involving diversion of relief items meant for vulnerable communities in Karamoja sub-region.
The report unveils a bonanza at the Office of the Prime Minister when high-ranking government officials shared iron sheets and other relief items in the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs to support ongoing disarmament programmes in poverty-stricken areas of North Eastern Uganda.
The matter has since become contentious with the office of the IGG picking interest in the issue and parliamentarians kicking off a move to censure Karamoja minister Goretti Kitutu. The OPM has also stated it’s support for investigations.
“This is to confirm that I requested for and received 250 iron sheets from the 0ffice of the Prime Minster to facilitate repair of the Facilities at Buzaaya Health sub-district, Health Centre II, located at Buwooya, Bugulumbya Subcounty in Kamuli District” Kadaga posted on Wednesday.
“I also received 250 iron sheets from Office of the Prime Minister to repair Buwooya Primary school , which together with the Health Center II had equally been devastated by hailstorm” She added.
On the published list of beneficiaries in the iron sheet bonanza, Kadaga is said to have picked 500 iron sheets under voucher number 8519. Others include Morrice Kaducu (State for Primary Education), Jacob Oboth Oboth (State for Defense), Rukia Nakadama (Third Deputy Prime Minister), Matia Kassaija (Finance Minister), Mary Goretti Kitutu (Karamoja Affairs), Obua Dennis Hamson (Government Chief Whip), Lugoloobi Amos (State for Finance and Planning) and Bwino Kyakulaga (State For Agriculture).
In her posts on Twitter, Kadaga also attached photos of a deroofed structures bearing a signpost of Buwoya Health Center II alonside those of Buwoya Church of Uganda Primary School.
Kamuli District Inspector of Schools Mr. Dennis Lyada, confrimed that the roof of a classroom block at Buwoya Primary School was blown off by wind in November 2022 and has since not been repaired. He said efforts by management to have the roof replaced were futile as the District authorities did not have funds to that effect.
He however noted that the building at Buwoya Health center which is located close to the school has since been repaired after it’s roof also got blown off.