The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHAC-U), working with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), has arrested Polly Natuhwera, director of Zionat Multipurpose Limited, on charges of embezzlement of government funds and fraud.
In the statement released on May 16, 2024, SHAC-U stated that, in December 2023, a contract was signed between Tororo DLG and M/s Zionat Multipurpose International Limited at UGX 648,323,714 for the construction of Mwello Seed School with a completion date of May 30, 2024.
“The site was handed over in February, and an advance payment of UGX 162,080,929 was paid to the contractor. However, he did not start work until April 19, 2024, and Tororo District Local Government (DLG) officials, including the District Engineer and CAO, made numerous attempts to get to the contractor without any success. They also notified him of their intention to terminate the contract,” the statement reads in part.
The statement further states that, upon arrest, the suspect admitted to diverting part of the UGX 162M to other uses. Investigations have also revealed that, whereas during the bidding process, the contractor provided profiles of qualified and registered engineers as project manager and site engineer, on ground he has no qualified and registered engineers doing the work.
The statement also states that the same suspect had an ongoing contract for the construction of Simu Seed School Phase 11 in Bulambuli district.
“Additionally, the same contractor has an ongoing construction of Simu Seed School Phase 11 in Bulambuli district, which also happens to be at the foundation level since the signing of the contract in January 2024 at a cost of Ugx 89 million,” the anti-corruption unit stated.
The law stipulates that anyone convicted under Section 11(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act may face a prison sentence of up to seven years and a fine not exceeding UGX 5.3 million. Likewise, an individual found guilty under Section 190(1) for fraudulent procurement could be sentenced to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years.
