The State Minister for Works, Musa Ecweru, has warned district leaders over misuse of road maintenance funds allocated to districts across the country.
While speaking during the official launch of construction works on the 68km Kihura-Bwizi-Rwamwanja-Kahunge road and the 38km Mpara-Bwizi road project in Bwizi Sub-county, Kamwenge District Minister Ecweru expressed concern over reports of misappropriation of the shs 1 billion allocated to each district for road maintenance.
“I have received disturbing complaints from the public indicating that some district officials are treating these funds as their personal pocket money,” Ecweru said during the event held at the Bwizi Seed Secondary School playground.
“This is unacceptable. The money was meant to improve community access roads and ease transport challenges for our people.”
The minister’s remarks come amid increasing scrutiny over the use of government resources at the district level.
Ecweru singled out the districts of Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, and Kyegegwa, urging their district engineers to prepare comprehensive accountability reports.
“I am directing the district engineers in these areas to come forward with clear, transparent reports on how these funds have been used,” he stated.
“These reports will be critical as we prepare to host His Excellency the President during his upcoming visit for the Parish Development Model (PDM) program.”
He emphasized that the government remains committed to ensuring infrastructure development, especially in rural communities, is implemented transparently and efficiently.
In 2023, following a presidential directive, each district and municipality received an additional Shs1 billion specifically for road maintenance, on top of the regular Road Fund allocations. However, concerns have persisted about the poor state of roads and allegations of fund mismanagement.
Minister Ecweru vowed that his ministry will continue to monitor the implementation of road projects and take action against any leaders found guilty of corruption or negligence.
“Our people deserve better roads. They deserve leaders who work for them, not against them,” he said