The arrest of a district engineer over the alleged misappropriation of UGX 300 million in Bungokho North Constituency has sparked fresh debate on accountability and due process, with Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde raising concerns over the manner of enforcement.
The engineer was apprehended following an inspection led by Local Government Minister Balaam Ateenyi, alongside area leaders, which revealed that the Kyasura–Bukingala 6-kilometre road remained in poor condition despite records indicating full expenditure of funds by June 2026.
The incident prompted immediate action, with authorities handing the matter to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).
However, Ssemakadde has questioned both the process and the optics surrounding the arrest, warning against equating enforcement action with justice.
“Ministers Balaam & Nameere arrest a water engineer over UGX 2.2BN—and I'm supposed to clap?” he posed, signaling skepticism over the handling of the case.
While acknowledging the need for accountability, the ULS president maintained that any proven theft of public funds must be punished through lawful channels.
“Theft is theft. If public funds were looted, throw the book. Hard,” he said.
Ssemakadde, however, cautioned that arrests alone do not amount to justice, emphasizing the importance of constitutional safeguards.
“But arrest ≠ justice. It's spectacle until due process is served. Where is the evidence? Where is the charge sheet? Where is the presumption of innocence our Constitution guarantees?” he added.
He further questioned the role of ministers in what he described as investigative and prosecutorial functions, suggesting the possibility of institutional overreach.
“Why are Ministers playing DPP and CID? Is this a corruption bust or a distraction from the Ministry's own failure to supervise procurement, costing, and variation orders?” Ssemakadde asked.
The legal expert also pointed to the need for forensic audits to establish the truth behind the alleged financial discrepancies, noting that not all additional costs necessarily indicate corruption.
“That UGX 400M ‘extra’ might be a legitimate claim, not a bribe. But we won't know, because we're busy clapping for handcuffs instead of demanding forensic audits,” he stated.
He concluded by calling for evidence-based accountability and broader scrutiny of all officials involved in project approval and supervision.
“Prosecute the guilty. But do it in court, not in the press. And while you're at it, investigate the supervisors who signed off on this mess. One engineer doesn't steal 2.2BN alone.”