[UAH] The Observer - Busoga youth money missing

http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25252:busoga-youth-money-missing&catid=34:news&Itemid=114

Written by andrew mulinda

Even before the excitement over President Museveni's recent donation of a sackful of money dies down, a raft of investigations are underway to establish how more than Shs 200m, donated to several groups in Jinja, was misappropriated.

The money, donated to youth groups by the President and his brother, Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), was meant to kick-start small enterprises in the area. In 2010, the Microfinance Support Centre, through Gen Saleh, gave Shs 195m to four officials to start up piggery and poultry projects in the area, in addition to purchasing a motor-driven hydraform machine, groundnut grinding mills and a compressor that inflates car tyres, sprays cars and houses.

Those in the eye of the storm include Busede sub-county chairperson Zubair Tugezeku, members Deo Mukama and Samuel Mutavuwa, as well as Bugembe youth district councillor, Nusurah Nabukalu. A year later, in 2011, the president donated another Shs 170m to be shared out by 12 women groups in Jinja. None of the projects has ever taken off, raising fears of foul play.

Deo Mukama, a youth official from Busedde, reportedly signed for Shs 21.9m to buy the motor-driven hydraform machine but instead bought a manual one at just Shs 4m, leaving several youth groups complaining. Abudallah Kataba, who is now acting youth chairperson in Busedde, has pledged to take action.

"I don't know where our money went; so, I am mobilizing the youth to organize a peaceful protest and cause the fugitive youth chairman to be brought to book," Kataba said.

Farouk Kirunda, a State House official, who received Shs 25m on behalf of several youths from Gen Salim Saleh, was at the weekend forced to pay a further Shs 2m to Busedde youths to help with their projects. He later admitted that many planned projects had failed, but denied any wrongdoing on his part. He instead advised the youth to engage the police to investigate the matter.

"More than 100 youths in Busedde sub-county have learnt to spray cars and 16 of them are currently earning income from the compressor located along Oboja road in Jinja town," Kirunda said.

The brick and poultry projects stalled, he said, after the money was embezzled. Jinja District Youth Chairman James Mukembo said his office was investigating the management of funds by the youth groups before making a report.

President Museveni recently donated Shs 250m to the Busoga Youth Forum, attracting complaints from other youths about outstanding presidential pledges.
andrewzabby@gmail.com

The Observer - Busoga youth money missing
http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25252:busoga-youth-money-missing&catid=34:news&Itemid=114