By Jamillah Kemigisa
Four officials from the Kapchorwa Municipal Council have been arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kapchorwa on charges of Neglect of Duty and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony in connection with failed road maintenance projects in the municipality.
The accused officials are Cherop Bob, Acting Municipal Engineer; Cherotich Alex, Assistant Engineering Officer; Chekwurui Atebeni Silver, Assistant Engineering Officer; and Kusuro Patrick, Roads Inspector. They have been remanded in custody until December 3, 2025.
Authorities allege that the officials failed to supervise and enforce compliance with guidelines for several road projects funded under the UGX 1 Billion Road Maintenance Grant. The grant is allocated annually to districts and municipalities to support essential road works and covers the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial years.
The affected roads include Chebukat Road, Kapenguria – Upper Cheptui Bridge Road, Siron – Towut Road, Kapteret – Kaptul – Kabat Road, Kaptul – Kapnyikew Road, Munda – Kinyanga – Bulambuli Road, Chesikwa Road, Barawa Road, and Atar – Kamukes Road.
Investigations indicate that despite receiving full funding and making payments to contractors, the officials neglected to ensure execution of approved works, including graveling roads and installing culverts. This failure has led to significant financial losses for the municipality and left the roads in a state of disrepair, with no major works completed over the past two financial years.
The case was brought forward by the Anti-Corruption Court (@AntiGraft_SH) in collaboration with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (@ODPPUGANDA) and the Criminal Investigations Directorate.
Officials involved in public service have been warned that mismanagement of funds and neglect of duty will attract strict legal action, reflecting the government’s resolve to ensure accountability and transparency in municipal projects.
The Kapchorwa Municipal Council is responsible for maintaining and developing infrastructure within the municipality, including road construction and maintenance. Mismanagement and negligence in handling the Uganda Road Maintenance Grant have been reported in the past, often resulting in incomplete projects, poor road infrastructure, and financial losses.
This case represents a significant move by Uganda’s anti-corruption authorities to hold municipal officials accountable for the misuse of public funds and the failure to deliver essential services to communities.
