RUKUNGIRI- A Joint security operative in Rukungiri district led by Resident District Commissioner (RDC) has today arrested two men in connection to the theft and vandalizing of water equipment at Kahengye Water Project.
The two criminals have been identified as Muhumuza Kenneth 22, a resident of Omukijungu Mbarara and Nuwamanya Umalu 30, from Kekuubo in Kabale Municipality. These were this morning intercepted by residents at around 6am after they were seen in Buyanja town council with water equipment vandalized from Kahengye water line.
It is reported that the Kahengye Water Project has been losing working materials such as pipes, and other related materials and this has been happening since the project started. According to Sabiti Kyempare, one of the residents, the two suspects were seen carrying water equipment in a sack but in the process of trying to arrest them, Nuwamanya Wumalu ran away but they were able to arrest Muhumuza after fist exchange.
Kyempare added that security operatives led by RDC Nsubuga Bewayo Stephen, DISO Christopher Wakyaya and other security personnels were helped by Muhumuza to trace the escapee who was found sleeping in “HOT SPA & ACCOMODATION in Buyanja town council.
The suspects were then interrogated where Nuwamanya revealed that he is a professional fiber technician of masts and Muhumuza is a matooke vendor. Nsubuga revealed that he has been receiving complaints from Kahengye Water Project, National Water and Sewerage Corporation that there are some criminalists who vandalize with their equipment leading to the failure of having the project to complete.
Nsubuga added that this also forced them to carry out joint operations with help of residents where they managed to arrest the two and he assured the public that these will be brought to courts of laws and charged accordingly.
Muhereza Richard, the Buyanja technical supervisor (NWSC) described theft and vandalism of Kahengye Water Project equipment as a major threat in the fulfillment of future development plans in the water supply system. Muhereza added that stolen materials are estimated at a tune of 50 million shillings.
It’s to be remembered that in December last year, Geoffrey Kyomukama assured people of Rukungiri that they will get this water before 2021 climaxes but it has remained history till now.
Kahengye Water Project is funded by the World Bank in partnership with the government of Uganda and it was estimated to cost Ugx 44 billion shillings. The project was commissioned by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in July 2016 and since then; people have been long waiting for the water but all in vain.
