The fuel theft Mpigi engineer case has sparked public outrage after authorities remanded Charles Sitakange for allegedly stealing over 21,000 litres of government fuel worth more than Shs100 million. Sitakange, who serves as Mpigi’s assistant district engineer for civil works, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joan Ketty Acen on Wednesday. He denied the charges.
Officials said the stolen fuel was meant for road maintenance projects in Mpigi District under the 2023/2024 financial year. Sitakange reportedly sourced the fuel from three stations: FR Filling Station, Total Petrol Station, and Mpigi Filling Station. Instead of allocating the fuel to the planned works, he allegedly diverted it through inflated estimates and collusion.
Prosecutor Draine Kansiime explained that the scheme involved registering non-operational vehicles to justify fuel usage. One of the trucks, tipper LG 0002-082, had remained grounded since 2022 but appeared in official fuel logs. Investigators also discovered that some roads, such as the Kyansonzi–Kampiringisa–Muyira stretch, never received maintenance despite budget allocations of Shs97 million.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit and Police Crime Intelligence launched a joint investigation into the case. They uncovered what they described as a coordinated fraud operation between the engineering office and petrol station staff. Authorities believe the fuel theft Mpigi engineer case highlights ongoing weaknesses in local procurement systems.
Sitakange’s supervisor, acting district engineer Sam Kyambadde, allegedly played a role in the scheme. He failed to appear in court and remains on the run. The magistrate has issued a warrant for his arrest. Police have intensified efforts to track him down.
Magistrate Acen remanded Sitakange to Kigo Prison until July 22. She also ordered that the investigations proceed without delay. Meanwhile, residents and civil society groups have called for a broader audit of all road maintenance projects funded over the past two years.
The fuel theft Mpigi engineer case is not the only corruption scandal in the district. In a related incident, authorities arrested District Chairman Martine Ssejjemba, former District Service Commission chairperson Fredrick Kirumira, and secretary Sarah Nakamoga. The three allegedly demanded bribes ranging from Shs1 million to Shs15 million from a job applicant seeking a health officer position.
Court granted them bail, but Nakamoga must surrender her passport and cannot travel abroad for the next two years. Investigators say they are still building a case against the trio. Meanwhile, the public continues to question the integrity of recruitment and procurement processes in the district.
These cases have once again drawn attention to misuse of public resources and lack of accountability in local government. The fuel theft Mpigi engineer scandal stands as a reminder of the urgent need for reform in Uganda’s infrastructure oversight.
Many residents now demand transparency in project implementation and stronger tracking of fuel and asset use. Without these reforms, local development risks further setbacks. Authorities have promised to complete investigations and prosecute all those involved in both ongoing cases.
Read: Uganda Corruption Losses Hit Shs10 Trillion Annually