By KT Reporter
The Mpigi District Assistant Engineer in charge of Civil Works, Charles Sitakange, has been remanded to Kigo Prison for allegedly stealing fuel meant for road works. Sitakange was arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Police and appeared before Mpigi Chief Magistrate Joan Ketty Acaa on Tuesday.
He was charged with theft of 21,739 litres of fuel valued at UGX 242,022,500.
According to the charge sheet, Sitakange and Sam Kyambadde—the Acting District Engineer who is currently on the run—allegedly stole the fuel in the 2023/2024 financial year under a UGX 1 billion road maintenance grant allocated to Mpigi Town Council.
Investigators revealed that the suspects inflated fuel quantities for road projects, then connived with fuel station managers to draw excess fuel. They later accounted for the diverted fuel using registration numbers of grounded vehicles, including tipper truck LG 0002-082, which has not been operational since 2022, but was allegedly used to claim fuel worth UGX 18.5 million.
The engineers also reportedly used vehicle numbers from other departments and non-district vehicles to cover up the scam. In total, up to UGX 90 million is believed to have been lost through falsified records. Investigations further revealed that one of the roads listed for construction—the Kyansoozi–Kampiringisa–Muyiira Road, budgeted at UGX 97 million—was not worked on at all, despite district officials reporting it as completed.
Sitakange has been remanded until July 22, 2025, when he will return to court to face theft charges. Cases of fuel theft under the road maintenance grant have become widespread in local governments. Just a month ago, Busia Municipal Council officials were charged in court over similar allegations. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has since launched broader investigations into the misuse of the UGX 1 billion grant across several districts following multiple complaints-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
