Arua district leadership has suspended the second phase of Northern Uganda Social Action Fund NUSAF following numerous corruption complaints that have marred the implementation of the project in the district.
The suspension that was announced by Arua LC 5 Chairperson Wadri Sam Nyakua on Thursday came after communities complained about several implementation challenges such as approval of sub projects where they are asked to pay money. The would be beneficiaries claim that when projects are approved, they are asked to return the money, while others allege the training they are supposed to have for two weeks is done for three days and money for two weeks taken by the NUSAF desk officer.
Nyakua says the communities have also complained about exorbitant prices charged on stationary and procurement of their selected enterprises by the district NUSAF technical officer, Monica Edemacu, instead of allowing the communities to do it as required by the guidelines. Other complaints include extortion of money from the community by the implementers at the district level.
Edemacu has been asked to step aside pending investigations into the allegations as they personally touch her. Nyakua says if the allegations are true it amounts to corruption and those behind it will face the law.
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He says the district executive committee has also instituted a three member probe committee to go to the communities in the next fourteen days to investigate the allegations. The committee is led by Ronald Dravu, the head of NUSAF internal audit.
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But before announcing the suspension of the programme, Edemacu who appeared before the district executive committee denied all the allegations saying they are politically motivated. According to Edemacu, most complaints are coming from politicians not communities who have benefited from the programme.
But Martin Gwoktho, Arua district Chief Administrative Officer who sided with the district executive committee, asked the NUSAF technical officer to step aside for investigations to start. He, however, noted that the suspension does not mean the programme is closed.
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But the suspension has been received with mixed feelings from members of the public who are waiting for funding under the program. Santos Alule, a resident of Manibe Sub County whose group has applied for funding, says much as the decision is aimed at fighting corruption it will greatly affect them because they were expecting their money this week.
The 100 million dollar program launched in February 2010 is implemented in the war ravaged northern Uganda but since the program was launched, only 150 sub projects have been approved and funded in Arua out of the expected 500 sub projects from the communities. This raised concern from the communities who accused the technical officer of foul play.
