By Our Reporter
SOROTI - The Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) has raised serious concerns over the management of Shs.120 million allocated to beautify Soroti City ahead of the recent Ateker Re-union festival held in November 2024.
ICU subjects have expressed dissatisfaction with the project, citing the drying flowers as evidence of poor execution, despite the significant allocation. They alleged that the Shs.120 million appears to have been mismanaged, failing to deliver value for money.
Given the ongoing dry season, they had expected consistent watering of the flowers to sustain their growth until the rains resume, but this has not been the case.
The funds, part of a Shs.2.3 billion government grant intended for various development initiatives, were managed under the oversight of Capt. Mike George Mukula, the NRM Vice Chairman for Eastern Uganda. The project included activities such as removing old flowers, cleaning the city, garbage collection, opening blocked drainage channels, and landscaping.
ICU Prime Minister Andrew Ocole stated that Mukula was expected to collaborate with the Soroti City Authority, which provided trucks for garbage removal. However, allegations have emerged that Mukula enlisted his private company, Asante Waste Management, raising questions about transparency and accountability.
During a recent media engagement, His Highness Papa Paul Sande Emolot, the Paramount Chief of the ICU, urged the community to protect the flowers and challenged city authorities to monitor and preserve them. He also called on the media to raise awareness about the value of the beautification initiative.
"I am not happy about the way the flowers have died, and pedestrians crossing the road have trampled on them, despite financially supporting this initiative," Emolot said. He pledged to replant the flowers and ensure better maintenance moving forward.
Paul Omer, the Mayor of Soroti City East Division, criticized Mukula’s management of the funds, accusing him of using the initiative for personal political gain.
"From the moment I heard my friend Mukula was tasked with leading the city cleaning, I knew it would devolve into an effort to further his political motives, resulting in a loss for the government," Omer remarked. He added that the project has failed visibly, with dried flowers and unmanaged bushes dominating the city.
Several ICU cabinet members have voiced their frustrations, with one anonymous official labeling Mukula a "trickster" who exploited his political influence to mismanage the funds. They noted that his failure to protect the flowers and ensure consistent watering led to their deterioration.
Critics argue that Mukula’s oversight has derailed the beautification efforts and wasted significant government resources.
Efforts to reach Capt. Mike Mukula for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls.
The ICU leadership has promised to review the project and take corrective measures to restore Soroti City’s aesthetic appeal while ensuring better accountability in future initiatives.
