By Obbo Yusuf
Iganga District Chairman Isabirye Shabiru has intensified his campaign against corruption, absenteeism and misuse of government resources, warning civil servants and officials responsible for public assets to account for taxpayers’ money.
Shabiru says several government programmes in the district are being undermined by allegations of corruption, shoddy work and absenteeism among civil servants, denying residents the quality services they deserve.
According to the chairman, public complaints over poor service delivery have reached alarming levels, prompting him to step up monitoring of government projects and assets across the district.
This week, Shabiru toured the district parking yard, where he reportedly found several vehicles in good mechanical condition that had remained parked for years despite the district facing a shortage of transport facilities for staff conducting field activities.
He questioned why the vehicles had not been put to use and called on the responsible departments to explain the circumstances surrounding their continued parking.
The chairman also inspected heavy machinery at the yard and discovered equipment that had been abandoned, with some spare parts reportedly missing.
Shabiru said the situation raises serious questions about the management and protection of government assets, stressing that taxpayers’ resources must be put to their intended use.
The district chairman has in recent months been seen making unannounced visits to different government project sites and departments to monitor how public funds are being spent.
He says he has received reports highlighting both successful programmes and areas where public resources may have been wasted or poorly managed.
On one occasion, Shabiru reportedly intercepted a local government truck belonging to Iganga that was allegedly being used at night for private business, including transporting bricks, sand and stones.
He said the matter was reported to police for further investigation.
Shabiru has vowed to continue conducting surprise inspections and monitoring government programmes, saying officials entrusted with public resources must be held accountable.
His approach has earned him the nickname “a no-nonsense governor” among some members of the community, who say they hope his campaign will improve accountability, protect government property and strengthen service delivery in Iganga.
However, the allegations of corruption, misuse of government vehicles and missing machinery parts require proper investigation and responses from the concerned departments and officials before responsibility can be established.
