Sebei Residents Call on Minister Balaam to Inspect Government Projects, Allege Massive Waste of Public Funds

KAPCHORWA – Residents from the Sebei sub-region have called on the Minister for Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, and the State Minister for Local Government, Justine Namere, to extend their ongoing anti-corruption and accountability tour to Kapchorwa, Kween, and Bukwo districts.

The residents say several government-funded projects implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture have failed to deliver value for money, despite billions of shillings being invested.

Speaking to this publication, Joyce Chemutai, a resident of Ngenge in Kween District, claimed that an irrigation scheme constructed under the Ministry of Water and Environment was poorly executed and does not reflect the amount of public funds spent.

“The workmanship on the irrigation project does not represent value for money. We want the ministers to come and see it for themselves,” Chemutai said.

She added that residents are prepared to take the ministers on an inspection tour of several projects, including the Chebombai Irrigation and Fish Project in Bukwo District, the irrigation facilities in Ngenge, and water sources that she alleges have been diverted to the neighboring Teso sub-region while many communities in Sebei continue to suffer chronic water shortages.

“We are ready to lead them to Chebombai Irrigation and Fish Project in Bukwo, then to Ngenge, and finally to the source of water that has been taken to Teso while people in Sebei still lack access to clean water,” she said.

Another resident, Joel Kutosi, said a number of projects implemented by both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water and Environment have failed to meet the expectations of local communities.

According to Kutosi, many of the projects have not delivered the intended benefits despite significant government investment.

Meanwhile, John Kisosi, a resident of Bukwo District, alleged that billions of shillings were spent on extending piped water to Bukwo Town Council under the Water Umbrella programme, but many residents still rely on unsafe water sources.

“Billions were spent to connect piped water to Bukwo Town Council, yet a large section of the community still fetches dirty water. We want Minister Balaam to come and witness the suffering our people are going through because of what we believe is corruption among some officials in the Ministry of Water and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture,” Kisosi said.

The residents expressed hope that the ministers’ visit would result in thorough inspections of the projects, investigations into the alleged misuse of public funds, and action against any officials found responsible for poor implementation.

Their appeal comes as Minister Balaam Barugahara continues an accountability campaign aimed at inspecting government projects and promoting transparency and improved service delivery across the country.