LC III chairpersons and Sub county chiefs in Nakasongola district are in trouble over allegations of mishandling the distribution of bicycles to members of the Village Health Teams-VHTs. Both the police and office of the Chief Administrative Officer have launched investigations into the distribution of 300 bicycles received. Sulaiman Kasozi, the Nakasongola Chief Administrative Officer says that ministry of health disbursed 300 bicycles to early this year for distribution to VTHs.
He says that the bicycles were handed over to the leadership selected sub counties. They include Kalungi, Nakitoma, Wabinyonyi Lwabyata, Lwampanga, Nabiswera, Kalongo, Kakooge and Nakasongola town council. Kasozi explains that the bicycles were meant to motivate the VHTs, as well as facilitate their movements to the villages to carry out their duties. He however, claims that some sub county chiefs connived with LC 3 chairperson and shared some of the bicycles with their relatives and friends.
Kasozi says that some of the officials even went ahead and sold the bicycles leaving the intended beneficiaries crying foul play. He says that the affected VHT members petitioned both his office and the RDC David Masereka to intervene in the matter. Kasozi says that he has summoned the sub county officials to produce documented evidence showing how the bicycles were distributed. He says those found to have mismanaged the distribution of the bicycles will be charged with corruption and abuse of office.
David Masereka, Nakasongola Resident District Commissioner says that he has also ordered police to investigate the implicated officials, saying at least three LC III chairpersons he declined to name have already been interrogated over their involvement in the mismanagement of the bicycle distribution. Frank Mwebaze, the Nakasongola Criminal Investigations Officer says that they are scrutinizing the list of beneficiaries. Both Kasozi and RDC Masereka fault the health ministry for not involving district administrators in the supply and distribution of the bicycles.
However, some chairpersons have denied any involvement in the mismanagement of the bicycle distribution exercise. David Sserubombwe, the LC III chairperson Nabiswera Sub County says they only distributed the bicycles to the intended beneficiaries. He however says that some of the VHT members missed out on the bicycles because they were not enough, which could have forced them to complain to the authorities. Sserubombwe says that he has submitted the list of all beneficiaries in his sub county to police for verification.
George William Lubega, the LC III chairperson Lwampanga Sub County says that he was not even aware that VHT members from his sub county are complaining on missing out on the bicycles. He however, promises to cooperate with the authorities to address any concerns. The VHTs were set up by government to help in the management of simple ailments such as malaria and diarrhea to supplement the work of health workers. They help to diagnose and distribute medicine to patients in hard to reach areas, where there are not health service providers.
