MINISTER MAGYEZI ORDERS ARREST OF 2 KABALE OFFICIALS OVER CENTRAL MARKET LOCKUPS

By Kweronda Ambrose
KABALE DISTRICT

The minister of local government Hon. Raphael Magyezi has intervened in the issues of the Kabale central market and ordered for the immediate arrest of two Kabale municipal officers for obtaining money by false pretense from vendors and landlords.
The suspects who include Benon Nfitumukiza the Principal town agent, southern division in Kabale municipality, and Fideris Akankwasta the Kabale Municipal Commercial Officer are alleged to have engaged in acts of soliciting bribes from vendors and lock up owners promising to give them stalls and lock-ups.
The minister ordered the immediate arrest of the two officers on Monday night during the mediation meeting at Kabale Municipal offices between a section of aggrieved lock-up owners and Municipal officials demanding an explanation on how lock-ups and stalls were allocated to vendors, the fate of lock-up owners who had more than one lock up in the old market including the remaining and running time their releases which they signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kabale municipal.
During the meeting, Pamela Ankunda one of the vendors who used to operate from the demolished raised a concern that in 2018, she was forced by Benon Nfitumukiza to pay 10,000 shillings for registration to get clearance to access a lock-up in the newly constructed marked but never got a receipt for the money.
When asked about the matter of the money in question by the Minister, Nfitumukiza gave out uncoordinated views which triggered the minister to order security operatives at Kabale central police station to have him arrested and make a statement at the Police.
Minister Magyezi also ordered the District Police Commander and CID Kabale Police station to hunt for Fideris Akankwatsa who is on the run for three months alleged of soliciting 4-6 Million shillings bribe from lock-up owners.
He tasked the DPC and CID officer to also commence an investigation into the matter and ensure that Akankwatsa is also arrested.