An assistant district engineer in Mpigi has been remanded to Kigo Prison over allegations of stealing more than 21,000 liters of fuel—valued at over Shs100 million — meant for road maintenance in the district.
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Charles Sitakange, responsible for civil works, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joan Ketty Acen on Wednesday, where he was charged with theft of government property. He denied the charges and was remanded until July 22. His supervisor and co-accused, acting district engineer Sam Kyambadde, is currently on the run, prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest.
The alleged crime took place during the 2023/2024 financial year, involving fuel drawn from three stations: FR Filling Station, Total, and Mpigi Filling Station. According to Resident State Attorney Draine Kansiime, the fuel theft was part of a coordinated scheme where project fuel estimates were inflated and excess fuel diverted, often with the help of station staff. Investigations also revealed ghost usage, including vehicles like a tipper truck that has been out of service since 2022.
Additionally, authorities uncovered that no work was done on certain road projects—such as the Kyansonzi–Kampiringisa–Muyira road — despite reports and budget allocations confirming their completion. Sitakange now faces three counts of theft.
This case sheds light on broader procurement-related fraud challenges facing local government infrastructure initiatives, particularly in road maintenance.
In a related corruption matter, Mpigi District Chairman Martine Ssejjemba and two former district officials were granted bail after being accused of soliciting bribes from a job applicant. The court emphasized that investigations in both corruption cases remain ongoing, pointing to systemic integrity issues within district administration.
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