By Shadrach Bethel,

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit in liaison with police have arrested 11 public servants at Busia Municipality over alleged mismanagement of Busia main market funds.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit spokesperson, Mr Emmanuel Bunya, said the suspects caused financial loss to the government.

They include the Town Clerk, Mr Ronald Baganzi, his deputy Mr Johnson Wafuba, the Municipal Production Officer, Dr Joakim Serunkuuma, and the Chief Finance Officer, Mr Wycliffe Chimulwa.

The market which President Museveni commissioned on December 1, 2020, was constructed by the government under the Market and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme [MATIP-2] with funding from the African Development Bank and market has the capacity to accommodate 2,000 vendors and 1,261 facilities, including, lock-ups, stalls, pharmacy, pitches, cold rooms, day care facility spaces among others.

In a related development, the State House anti-corruption unit also arrested two Senior Butaleja District officials over fraud.

The Town Clerk of Busolwe Town Council, Mr Julius Hirya, was arrested for fraudulently awarding the town council structural and planning contract without approval, while Mr Kainan Hibbombo, the Butaleja District Senior Procurement Officer, was arrested for fraudulently processing an award letter to the same contractor purporting that the district contracts committee had approved the contract whereas not.