The Kisoro District Education Officer, Emmanuel Mwumvaneza, has been arraigned on charges of embezzlement, making a false claim by an official and abuse of office over alleged financial irregularities in a Shs1.4 billion classroom construction programme.

The charges follow investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) into the implementation of the district’s classroom construction programme for the 2024/2025 financial year.

According to investigators, the alleged irregularities include the award of school construction contracts to companies owned by or linked to district officials, as well as the processing of payments without adequate verification of the work completed.

Investigators are also examining allegations that classroom blocks constructed by communities were presented as newly completed government projects, raising concerns about accountability for public funds and the actual work delivered under the programme.

Mwumvaneza is further accused of misappropriating Shs8.25 million advanced for the commissioning of education projects.

The investigations also point to an alleged false entry indicating attendance at a commissioning ceremony and instructions to pay allowances for commissioning activities that were reportedly not conducted.

The case has drawn attention to accountability in the implementation of public infrastructure projects, particularly the award of contracts, verification of completed works and authorisation of payments.