EASTERN PROVINCE

NGOMA — Two Ngoma District top officials have resigned from their posts.

Josephine Mutesayire, the district deputy Mayor in-charge of Social Affairs and Jean Baptiste Buzimungu, the District Executive Secretary, stepped down last week following a row that had rocked the district executive committee.

When contacted, the District Advisory Council President, Francis Bushayija, could not  elaborate further on the saga.

Upon being pressed to comment Francis revealed that he had received resignation letters from the two officers  but he did not divulge  further details.

However our sources revealed the duo were  accused of abuse of office.

A source that preferred to remain anonymous said the office of the district executive secretary was accused of flouting tendering procedures.

"It is alleged that some top district officials have been using other people to award themselves lucrative  tenders ,” the source said.

"Many entrepreneurs within the district have been complaining of how the district officials have been winning such tenders using proxies .”

Mutesayire, the sources added, has been accused of recruiting staff through improper channels.

Efforts to reach the pair for a comment were futile by press time.

The resignation of these officials comes a week after the provincial Governor, Ephraim Kabayija, visited the district to calm down bickering among the district executive committee members.

"Reports have reached my desk to the effect that there is lack of cohesion among the  leadership in the district. This has to stop henceforth,” Kabayija said during his last  visit to the district.

It is alleged that disagreements within the district leaders started way back after the arrest of some officials on accusations of swindling money meant for poverty eradication programme otherwise known as ‘Ubudehe’.

Four sector executive secretaries were arrested early last month for diverting Ubudehe money for their personal needs.

They were later arrested and charged for misappropriation of public funds by the Ngoma Lower Instance Court.

They include Peter Ndikubwimana of Rukira Sector, John Bahirwe, Zaza Sector, Cyprien Gatungo of Remera Sector and Vincent Murasira the former Executive Secretary of Rurenge Sector, who is in charge of social affairs in Rukira.

The New Times has also learnt that the district advisory council will sit on Friday June 26 to discuss the latest resignations at the district.

Ends