The Kabarole district youth council says 450 million shillings donated to it for start-up businesses has been swindled.
David Mugume, the youth council chairperson, claims that the Kabarole district council is responsible for the embezzlement. He says the district finance department informed him that the money was diverted to the works department, but no accountability for the use of the funds has been provided.
The 450 million shillings was given to the Kabarole youth council by Alliance for Youth Organization, group based in the United Kingdom. It was to be used to help young entrepreneurs from 16 sub-counties to set up projects in carpentry, metal works, farming and handicrafts.
Herbert Kagoro, the coordinator of Kabarole Youth Development Program, says diversion of the funds without accountability is equal to embezzling the funds. He wants the money returned immediately to benefit the youth for whom it was intended.
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The Kabarole Chief Finance Office, Adam Mwesige, says the money was used to construct four bridges in Kiyombya village, which is in Buheesi sub-county. He claims that the youth fund was used because the district did not have its own money at the time.
When Uganda Radio Network visited Kiyombya, only one of the four bridges was constructed. The rest were exactly in the same state that they were when they washed away by floods last year.
