Rukungiri DHO, Treasurer in trouble over Shs 50 million Ebola funds

Rukungiri DHO, Treasurer in trouble over Shs 50 million Ebola funds
These students are putting up Ebola awareness posters in their school in Butembo, DR Congo. COURTESY PHOTO/UNICEF

Rukungiri, Uganda | URN | Rukungiri District Health Officials (DHOs) are on the spot for alleged failure to account for Shillings 50 million Ebola funds. The money was disbursed in 2019 by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Bank to help the district to carry out sensitization about the Ebola epidemic.

The officials were expected to conduct public Ebola awareness campaigns through radio, public gatherings and distribute educational materials among other activities. However, none of the activities was implemented and the officials can’t account for the money.

Elias Byamungu, the Rukungiri District Chief Administrative Officer, says the District Health Officer Dr. Akasima Mucunguzi and treasurer, Xavier Ndyanabo pocketed the money and didn’t share it with the Ebola Task Force.

He says the misappropriation of the money by the two officials sabotaged the mass Ebola sensitization campaign in the district. Byamungu says the two officials will be compelled to refund the money when investigations are complete.

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Andrewson Kateebire, the Rukungiri District LC 5 Chairperson, says they learnt of the missing money when some Ebola Task Force members involved in the sensitization campaign started complaining of no pay. Kateebire says the two officials must refund the money or else face the law.

In their response, Ndyanabo and Mucunguzi claim that they received the money towards Christian’s festivities and could not carry out sensitization.

They have promised to embark on the sensation campaign since the money is allegedly still on the bank account.