Jinja City Engineer Charged Over Irregular Permit

JINJA. .The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working together with the Criminal Investigations Directorate of the Uganda Police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, has arraigned the Acting Building Control Officer of Jinja City Local Government before the Anti-Corruption Court.

Obodha Alex Batambuze, who serves as the Senior Civil Engineer of Jinja City, was arraigned this afternoon on charges of Abuse of Office.

According to the prosecution, on December 8, 2023, Batambuze allegedly used his position to irregularly issue a development permit to one Kakaire Kirunda Ali to construct a boundary wall on Plot 17B, Tabingwa Road in Jinja City.

Investigations indicate that the permit was issued without following the required procedures and without obtaining the mandatory approval from the relevant Physical Planning and Building Committee.

As a result, the construction of the wall reportedly blocked a community access road, cutting off residents and motorists who depend on the road for daily movement.

Batambuze had earlier been detained during the ongoing “Expose the Corrupt” National Campaign, led by the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, during the campaign’s tour of Eastern Uganda.

Following investigations, he was formally arrested and subsequently arraigned before court to answer the charges.