Bundibugyo District Engineer Muhindo Bithi Robert has been arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court and charged with causing financial loss to the Government over the collapse of a bridge constructed at a cost of sh115m.
Muhindo was arraigned on Wednesday by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working jointly with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). He was remanded until September 25, 2026.
The case stems from the construction of a bridge along the Tokwe–Kanyamwirima–Hakitara Road in Bundibugyo District in 2024, when Muhindo was serving as the district engineer.
Prosecution alleges that Muhindo, together with other suspects who are still at large, failed to conduct a soil-bearing capacity test before the bridge was designed.
The omission is alleged to have contravened the General Specifications for Road and Bridge Works, particularly Series 6000 on Structures.
Investigators further allege that the failure to conduct the required soil test contributed to the eventual collapse of the bridge, resulting in a financial loss of sh115m to the Government.
The charge comes amid an ongoing Government crackdown on alleged corruption and mismanagement in local governments under the “Expose the Corrupt” campaign spearheaded by Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi.
The campaign has involved inspections and investigations into alleged misuse of public resources, poor-quality infrastructure, abuse of office and other irregularities across local governments. A report presented by Barugahara to Parliament in August indicated that investigations in 12 districts and cities had resulted in dozens of arrests and court cases involving billions of shillings.
Recent operations have also seen local government officials, including engineers, arrested or subjected to investigations over alleged mismanagement of public funds and government projects.
The allegations against Muhindo remain subject to determination by the court.