KABALE– Three government vehicles attached to Kabale district local government in South Western Uganda are on the verge of facing auction over failure by the district to pay contractor shillings 60.731 million.
The vehicles facing auction are Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Pick-up registration number LG0018-037 attached to the office of the District LC5 Chairman, Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Pick-up registration number LG0017-037 attached to the office of the District Education Officer, and Toyota Hilux pick-up registration number LG0016-037 attached to the office of District Chief Finance Officer.
According to the leaked Court order seen by our reporter, the vehicle attached to the office of the LC5 Chairman should be sold by auction at shillings 18.231 million, the one attached to the District Education officer at shillings 21.200 million while another attached to the Chief finance officer be auctioned at shillings 21.300 million.
In the 2004/2005 financial year, Kabale district local government contracted Ibumba KB services to erect footbridges in Rwamucucu and Kashambya sub-counties crossing the Kanyabaha-Rushebeya wetland to ease the movement of the locals.
The two sub-counties now belong to Rukiga district after it was carved out of Kabale in July 2017.
The footbridge that connects Habweera-Ntaraga market to Kitunga-Kabira and Ngoma in the Kasyambya sub-county was awarded at a cost of shillings 36 million while the one connecting Rushebeya to Rwanjura, Burime, Kirundwe, Kihorezo and Nyakagabagaba in Rwamucucu sub-county was contracted at shillings 45 million.
After the completion of works, the bridges were commissioned by the then Kabale District LC5 Chairman, Adison Kakuru, and Sam Katehangwa, Chief Administrative Officer.
However, Benon Kabagambe, director of Ibumba KB services argues that the district only paid the work for a bridge in Rwamucucu Sub County and defaulted to pay the one for Kasyambya. Kabagambe says that after demanding pay in vain, he in 2013 opted to seek legal redress.
Richard Muhanguzi, of T/AM/S Murambi Auctioneers and High Court Bailiffs, says that however much on October 27, 2021 Grade One magistrate’s court ruled in favor of his client Kabagambe and ordered that he be paid, the district remained defiant.
Muhanguzi says that his company has secured an order from the Kabale Chief Magistrate’s court ordering for impounding the three vehicles for auctioning to raise the money in case the district does not adhere to the ruling before the end of July 9, 2023.
The Kabale district Chief Administrative officer, Fred Kalyesubula says that the district and his office have received the court order and it is still being analyzed.
He adds his office has already requested a grace period of two weeks from the plaintiff such that the matter is looked into.
