Kisoro District Education Officer Mwumvaneza Emmanuel has been charged with embezzlement, making false claims by an official and abuse of office over alleged financial irregularities in a UGX 1.4 billion classroom construction programme for the 2024/2025 financial year.

The charges follow investigations into the district’s classroom construction programme, according to the Anti-Corruption Unit of State House Uganda.

The unit worked with the Criminal Investigations Directorate of the Uganda Police Force (UPF) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to bring the charges against Mwumvaneza.

According to the investigation, the suspected scheme involved the awarding of school construction contracts to companies allegedly owned by or linked to district officials.

Investigators also found that payments were allegedly processed without proper verification of the work completed.

The investigation is further examining allegations that classroom blocks constructed by communities were presented as newly completed government projects.

These allegations raise questions about project accountability, the quality and extent of construction work delivered, and the possible loss of public funds.

Mwumvaneza also faces allegations concerning UGX 8,252,200 advanced for the commissioning of education projects.

According to the source, the allegations include the misappropriation of the funds, a false entry indicating attendance at a commissioning event, and instructions to pay allowances for commissioning activities that allegedly did not take place.