Staff Reporter
Amidst controversy, Commissioner of Parliament Prossy Akampurira Mbabazi claims that the 400 million shillings she received as a “Service Award” was used to empower women’s groups in Rubanda District. However, an independent investigation by our reporter reveals discrepancies in her claims.
According to Akampurira, during the District Women’s Day celebrations at Kacerere Playground in Kacerere Town Council, Rubanda West County in June 2024, she initiated a project called “Prosperous Women Rubanda” (PWR). The project was intended to support women’s groups in the district with seed capital of 300,000 shillings each.
The investigation, however, uncovered that only 166 out of 461 villages received the funds. This means that 295 villages were left out. The data shows that 49,800,000 shillings were allocated to the 166 villages, leaving 350,200,000 shillings unaccounted for. If Akampurira had distributed the funds equally among all 461 villages, approximately 138,300,000 shillings would have been allocated, which is significantly higher than what was actually distributed.
Residents Miria Arinaitwe and Sharon Karungi from Kagoye Cell, Nyarurambi Parish in Muko Sub County expressed that 300,000 shillings is insufficient to significantly improve the economic status of women. They believe that the amount provided does not adequately address the needs of women’s groups, given the total funds Akampurira received.
Joventa Tumusiime from Kagorogoro Village and Dorothy Kyampeire from Murukoro Village in Muko Sub County noted that the lack of funds has led to dissatisfaction and a decline in participation within the women’s groups. They suggested that Akampurira should have used her own salary to support these groups instead of the service award money.
Betty Akankundira and Ahisiibwe Maria Bridget from Kishanje in Bufundi Sub County argued that if the 400 million shillings had been appropriately distributed, it could have significantly improved the lives of women in the district.
Akampurira, also the Rubanda District Woman MP, along with NRM Parliamentary Commissioners Esther Afoyochan and Solomon Silwanyi, and former Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga, is under scrutiny for allegedly distributing a 1.7 billion shillings service award.
