Gideon Tumwijukye | Tayari News
RUKIGA – The Rukiga District Speaker, Oscar Akampurira, has asked the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) to investigate alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Kahumuruzi Gravity Water Flow Project.
The project, valued at over 39 million Uganda shillings, is being implemented in the Kakiri and Kashumururuzi villages in Kashambya Sub-county, as well as in Kabirizi village in Rwamucucu Sub-county, to improve access to clean, safe water for residents.
The matter came to light during a district council session held on Friday at the Rukiga District Council Hall, where councillors raised concerns over the manner in which the project is being executed.
The Bukinda Female Councillor, Brendah Ainembabazi accused project implementers of diverting water taps from the intended beneficiaries to serve a few influential individuals in the community.
“It is very unfortunate that a project meant to serve the wider community is now benefiting a few. Some taps have reportedly been redirected to homes of wealthy families, leaving ordinary residents without access to clean water,” Ainembabazi said.
She further alleged that one of the beneficiaries is Rukiga District Male Youth Councillor, Elias Turinawe, who also doubles as the Secretary for Works and Technical Services, raising concerns about possible conflict of interest.
The Rwamucucu Sub-County District Councillor, Samuel Niwandinda, also expressed dissatisfaction with the progress and impact of the project, noting that despite it being reported as nearly complete, most households are yet to benefit.
“We are being told the project is at 99 per cent completion, but on the ground, the situation is different. Water has not reached the majority of the people it was intended to serve,” Niwandinda stated.
Other councilors echoed similar concerns, revealing that many residents in the affected areas continue to rely on unsafe water sources such as the Rushebeya-Kanyabaha swamp. They warned that this exposes communities to waterborne diseases and increases the risk of accidents, including drowning.
“People are still fetching water from swamps, which is dangerous. This defeats the purpose of investing millions of shillings in a water project,” an unidentified councillor noted during the session.
The councillors further alleged that the project appears to have disproportionately benefited local leaders and business individuals, rather than the broader community it was meant to serve.
In response to the allegations, Elias Turinawe dismissed the claims, insisting that the project is still under implementation and will soon benefit all targeted households.
“These allegations are not true. The project is still ongoing, and once completed, every intended beneficiary will have access to water. People should be patient,” Turinawe said.
However, Speaker Oscar Akampurira emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the utilization of public resources, noting that such concerns must be thoroughly investigated.
“This council cannot ignore the concerns raised by members. I am directing the office of the RDC to carry out a comprehensive investigation into these allegations and present a report to council,” Akampurira ordered.