BY MOUREEN BIIRA
Tensions flared yesterday at Hamukungu Parents Senior Secondary School in Lake Katwe Sub-county, Busongora County South in Kasese District. Residents and local leaders clashed with district officials over the alleged mismanagement of 95 million shillings meant to construct a modern kitchen at the school.
The confrontation erupted when community members and district leaders met at Hamukungu Parents Senior Secondary School to inspect the progress of a 95-million-shilling government project.
The money was meant to construct a modern standard kitchen for students. But what they found on the ground sparked anger and questions. After the district officials failed to explain, residents immediately chased them away.
According to Mr. Isaya Kanan, area Councillor and Denis Tumuramye a resident, the work on ground was not matching with the said 95 million shillings allegedly allocated for the project that started two months ago.
Mr. Samuel Tushabe the Board chairperson, said the contractor began work without presenting any paper work including building plan and Bills of Quantities to the local leadership, the school management and without appointing a supervisor.
Mr. Laban Berangye, the school’s head teacher noted that they waited for the monitoring committee to be instituted after the project’s launch, in vain, adding that the project in question does not reflect the allocated amount.
Mr. David Rujumba, the Assistant Engineering Officer, confirmed to the press that they received 95 million shillings, adding that the shillings 10 million was for the design while shillings 85 million was for the structure itself.
According to him, the structure was to contain both the kitchen and the store inside and that upon completion, they realized the size of the kitchen and the store were small thus decided to put the store outside.
At the same school, there is another incomplete project of a staff quarter that started in 2023, estimated at a tune of 48 million shillings, but the progress has since stalled with no accountability for the allocated money to date. ENDS.