A whistleblower has called for an independent investigation into alleged corruption and mismanagement of public funds at Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment, citing concerns over suspected ghost projects, changes in project scope and accountability for government-funded programmes.
In a three-page letter to the media, the whistleblower, identified as Mawa, alleges that millions of shillings could have been spent on projects whose implementation and accountability remain unclear.
Among the issues raised is the Solar-Powered Water Supply and Irrigation Project, where ministry officials reportedly faced questions from Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee over the reduction in the number of sites planned under Phase One, from 920 to 687.
The change has raised questions about the reasons for the reduction, the management of the project and the measures in place to ensure that public funds are used for their intended purposes.
Mawa argues that the matter warrants further scrutiny, alleging that some ministry engineers may be using government resources to undertake private projects. The claims have not been independently verified.
The whistleblower has also called on the government and development partners to reconsider releasing additional funds to the ministry until concerns over accountability, project implementation and alleged ghost water projects are addressed.
According to Mawa, stronger oversight and greater transparency are necessary to safeguard public resources, restore confidence in the ministry’s programmes and ensure that communities receive the water and irrigation services intended under government-funded projects.
The allegations come amid broader concerns about the implementation of public projects and the need for effective monitoring to ensure that allocated funds translate into tangible services for beneficiaries.
The Ankole Times reported making seven attempts to obtain a comment from the Ministry of Water and Environment’s Permanent Secretary, Alfred Okidi Okoth, but the calls went unanswered by the time of publication.
The allegations remain unverified. An independent investigation would be required to establish whether any wrongdoing occurred, clarify the reasons behind the reduction in project sites and determine whether public resources were improperly used.
The ministry’s response to the allegations had not been obtained by the time of publication.
