Mbale Town Agents Accused of Corruption

Town agents in Mbale have been accused of corruption.



In May, a probe committee was set up to investigate the drop in local revenue collections. The committee found out that 12 town agents were liable for corruption.



The town agents, also known as the ward chiefs are employed by the council to enforce the collection of local revenue from business entities.



Rogers Kinmaswa, the Mbale Municipal Secretary for Finance, says the probe committee discovered that town agents have not been remitting to the council revenue from trading licenses.



Kimaswa says the agents connived with some councilors to duplicate receipts, which were issued as trading license to unsuspecting members of the business community.



He cites a case where the agents collected 800,000 shillings from Atoti wholesale distributors in Mbale town and issued them with a fake receipt.



Kimaswa also accused the agents of living lavish lifestyles that are far beyond what their wage can afford. He says the agents who are just serving under probation are driving expensive vehicles whose source is not known.



Kimaswa has in the meantime ordered the town clerk, Christopher Kaweesi, to ensure that the implicated agents are dismissed.