Big Story: Embattled Professor Charles Kwesiga caught with Stolen Equipment at his farm

Earlier this week, it was reported that Professor Charles Kwesiga of Uganda Industrial Research Institute was being investigated for corruption and misuse of public funds.

Operatives from State House Anti Corruption Unit (SHACU) arrested three UIRI employees. The Professor’s farm at Kyoruhega- Ntungamo was on Sunday 19/11/2023 raided, where plumbing and irrigation equipment purchased and paid for UGX 36.3 million by Uganda Industrial Research Institute was discovered.

At the Farm, the operatives also found he used Institute’s iron sheets to construct a cow’s shed.

Our sources have confirmed that SHACU operatives further raided Kwesiga’s property in Kitumba on Katuna Road ( about 4 kms from Kabale town) and found a bakery equipment, which was meant for one Mr Henry Njesha the Proprietor of Global Bakery in Kabale Town.

On Tuesday this week, Professor Kwesiga called a top management meeting at his office in Namanve. He implored the staff at the meeting not to bother about what was happening, assurring them he was fully in charge.

He disclosed he had an interraction with the SHACU head Gen. Isoke about the investigations and secured the release of UIRI staff that were detained in connection with the saga. With pomp, he informed the meeting that Gen Isoke had to apologize to him for the error, before bragging that soon he will meet his OB and friend, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for a conversation.

The embattled Professor then encouraged staff not to say negative things about the Institute if and when arrested or summoned by the Anti corruption operatives who he said he will bring them to their knees.

He blamed his woes on Mr John Njesha. We reported how Henry Njesha- the proprietor of Global bakery in Kabale town had signed a memorandum of understanding with UIRI for the bakery equipment only to be diverted by the Professor.

UIRI runs a business incubation program where the institute supports both in-house and virtual incubattees. Virtual incubattees are businesses that are supported technically by UIRI and sometimes the institute buys manufacturing equipment for these businesses to help them scale up their production activities.

It is under this scheme that Henry Njesha, signed a MOU with UIRI, wherein UIRI promised to buy equipment for his bakery.

The equipment was purchased UGX 1.6 billion under the production systems department (then headed by Mr Asuman Ratib) in a highly irregular manner, using funds that were meant for the State House Innovation fund Project.
Currently the Production systems department is headed by Mrs Joanita Arishaba.

UIRI is directly supervised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation headed by Dr Musenero but has no Board of Governors to oversee the institute’s activities.

More on this coming out soon. Watch the space.