IG discovers ghost projects in Hoima, over Shs 100m lost

The Inspector of Government (IG) has ordered Hoima district leadership to recover over Shs 100 million lost through ghost projects.

The deputy IG, Dr Patricia Achan discovered that the ghost projects were established under the World Bank-funded Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP). 

Achan is currently in the Bunyoro sub-region to monitor the progress of DRDIP. She cited Kasenyi-Lyato wetland restoration project in Nyakabingo parish, Buseruka sub-county where Shs 50 million was released but with nothing on the ground. She further discovered that Shs 65 million was released for the Runga solar power lighting project in Kapaapi sub-county that was never been implemented. All these projects were created in FY 2021/2022 financial year.

She has since ordered the Hoima chief administrative officer, Charles Oluba Kumakech to recover all the money injected into these projects. She faulted the district leaders for failing to monitor and supervise the implementation of the DRDIP hence leading to its failure.

She says district leaders need to routinely monitor and hold meetings with the beneficiaries to find out the challenges they are facing during the implementation of such projects. She further tasked district leaders to ensure that value for money is realized in the project by ensuring proper accountability and transparency during the implementation of the project. 

Dr Charles Kajura, the focal person for DRDIP in Hoima says since the inception of the project in the district in 2018, they have received Shs 19 billion that has been disbursed to 341 groups in the district.

Kumakech says DRDIP has played a pivotal role in the area of infrastructural development. He says several roads, health facilities, and schools have been constructed.