GICUMBI - Gicumbi District Advisory Council, chaired by its chairperson Cecile Nyirantwari, on Thursday, resolved to fire three employees over alleged embezzlement of district funds and theft of government property. 

One of them, the district official in-charge of ICT, Eric Nikize, who is currently on the run, was accused of stealing five lap tops and one desk top computer from the district ICT department, way back in June..  

He was also accused of conning Kigali businessmen by selling them two Rwandatel district modems at Rwf200,000 each.  

"Nikize claimed the modems had four years post payment service fee, whereas they didn’t have. He later went on the run after the businessmen came to the district to complain,” said the District Executive Secretary, Sinese Museveni. 

Also sacked was Kaniga Sector agricultural officer, Eugene Mobeli for allegedly ‘persistently’ embezzling funds and absconding from duty.  

The Kaniga Sector Executive Secretary, Theogene Safari, told The New Times that Mobeli had been receiving bribes from forest owners, in order to authorise them to burn charcoal without adhering to environment protection rules. 
He added that the sacked officer had been given several warning letters but failed to reform. 

"He never used to appear in office, as most of his time would be spent in the field carrying out illegal charcoal burning with his accomplices,” Safari said of the former agronomist. 

The Executive Secretary of Gisuna Cell in Byumba Sector, Herman Habumugabe was also fired by the council for embezzling the Cell’s funds. According to Nyirantwari, his case is already in court,

Meanwhile, the council reinstated the accountant of Byumba Health Centre, Prudencienne Musabyimana, and Gasharu Cell Executive Secretary in Rutare Sector, Betty Murebwayire, who had earlier been suspended for abuse of office and mismanagement of government funds. 

"Musabyimana’s case is still under investigation as the evidence against her is weak, while Murebwayire had completed her three months suspension for abuse of office,” said Nyirantwari. 

Ends