By KT Reporter
Beatrice Akori Akello, the Minister for Economic Monitoring and Development in the President’s Office, has directed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate a ghost irrigation scheme in Sironko District. The alleged scheme, known as the Wegosasa Irrigation Scheme, is located in Lubanga Cell, Mahempe Ward, Sironko Town Council.
While addressing district leaders during a monitoring exercise of government projects in Sironko on Tuesday, Akori expressed surprise that, despite records from the Ministry of Agriculture showing that 200 million shillings were allocated in the 2023/24 financial year for irrigation systems in Sironko Town Council, no such irrigation scheme exists on the ground.
Akori questioned whether the funds had been misappropriated by district officials or ministry officers, adding that the State House Anti-Corruption Unit would conduct a thorough investigation to determine what happened to the money.
Dison Balayo, the Sironko Town Council councilor, also expressed his confusion, stating that he had never heard of the said Wegosasa Irrigation Scheme. According to Balayo, Sironko Town Council only has one agricultural project, the Namonywe Model Farming Scheme, which is a privately run initiative aimed at training farmers.
He suggested that the mention of the irrigation scheme might be a misunderstanding or an attempt to make a false accountability claim regarding the 200 million Shillings. Charles Patrick Okore, the Sironko District Production Officer, confirmed in his response to the minister that the irrigation scheme projects are managed directly by the Ministry of Agriculture in Kampala, not by the district. Okore further stated that there is no record of a Wegosasa Irrigation Scheme in Sironko District-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
