Authorities in Kikuube are investigating the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a computer and a printer belonging to Nyairongo Seed School in Kyangwali Sub County from the district stores.
In 2022, the Ministry of Education and Sports procured 28 computers, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras, and other Information Technology (IT) equipment for Nyairongo Seed Secondary School at a cost of 153 million Shillings. At the time, the school was still undergoing construction and had not been fully handed over to the government by the contractor.
Consequently, the Kikuube District leadership decided to store the computers and other IT equipment at the district stores. On March 17th, 2024, Mr. Estaliko Bendaguzime, the school headteacher, was summoned to collect the computers from the Kikuube District stores.
He promptly went to the district headquarters, where he was provided with the IT equipment by the office attendant, Samuel Kobwemi.
However, Bendaguzime noticed that he only received 27 computers out of the 28 delivered to the district, leading him to report the matter to higher authorities.
Vincent Alpha Opio, the Kikuube LCV Vice Chairperson, stated that the district executive is investigating how the computer and printer were handed over to the headteacher without the consent of the District Education Officer (DEO), the internal auditor, the storekeeper, and the district leadership.
Opio further expressed concerns about the manner in which the computers were handed over and mentioned that members of the district technical team, whose identities he didn’t disclose, purchased a replacement computer and printer after news of the missing items surfaced. This suggests possible collusion in the theft.
The district executive committee has instructed the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kikuube, Moses Agum, to intervene and ensure that the members of the technical team involved in purchasing the missing items are apprehended and appropriately punished.
Additionally, the CAO has been directed to provide the committee with the delivery note to determine the exact items delivered to the seed school.
When contacted, Moses Agum, the CAO, declined to comment, stating that the matter is technical and under police investigation. Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region police spokesperson, confirmed that a case of missing computer and printer from Nyairongo Seed School was reported, and investigations are ongoing.
In a similar incident in November 2022, unknown perpetrators raided Kigorobya Seed School in Kigorobya Town Council, Hoima District, and stole 16 computers, part of the 29 newly installed computers at the school. The thieves gained entry through a broken window.
This led to the arrest and detention of three individuals, including two guards, Julius Bigirwa and Richard Musinguzi, and a teacher named James Mbabazi.
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