Rukungiri— A group of residents in Rukungiri District have accused Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture and Local People, Ms Peace Rugambwa for allegedly failing to pay millions of shillings owed to individuals and businesses that provided services under her Boona Bageigahare Nyekundire Group between 2019 and 2021.
The complainants said the unpaid debts have left them struggling financially, with some claiming they have accumulated loans, lost property and suffered business setbacks after providing services to the program without receiving the promised payments.
The accusations were made during today’s 10th .11.2026 press conference which took place at Rukungiri Inn Hotel in Eastern division Rukungiri Municipality.
Mr Edward Tumusiime one of the complainants and a resident of Bikunguru town council in Rukungiri district said he was approached by Ms Rugambwa in 2019 who asked him to provide education services to 220 students under the sponsorship program.
‘’ Ms Rugambwa found me at my school Burama vocational training institute and informed me that the students were under the sponsorship program of State House and that payment for their training were to be paid by state house through Gen Salim Saleh and We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and we agreed that each student will be paying shs.250000’’.
Mr Tumusiime added that “I trained 220 students for one year after being assured that their fees would be paid through the arrangements made by Ms Rugambwa. Unfortunately, I have never received the money and as of now I demand shs.165 M “.
Mr Tumusiime said financial institutions are demanding repayment of loans he acquired to sustain the learners, putting his property at risk.
“I took these learners in good faith because I believed the commitment made to me would be honored. At the moment my property (school) is at risk because of the loans I borrowed to look after these children. I appeal to President Museveni to intervene before I lose everything I have worked for,” Mr Tumusiime cried out.
Ms Dinah Kyarimpa, another complainant and the former secretary to Ms Rugambwa under the Boona Bageigahare Nyekundire Group said she is demanding Shs8.1 million in unpaid salary after working with the organization for three years because she was paying shs.450000 every month.
‘’ I abandoned my position as Ms Rugambwa’s secretary after going 18 months without any pay. The prolonged delay in payment affected my livelihood and as of now am struggling financially’’Ms Kyarimpa said.
Mr Chrysostom Byaruhanga Rwakaana, another complainant and the Rukungiri District Business Community chairperson said he is demanding Shs10.8 million in accumulated rental arrears.
‘’ Ms Rugambwa occupied two rooms at my premises along Kinyasano Road for three years without settling the full rent’’. Mr Rwakaana said.
Mr Rwakaana added that ‘’ Each room was rented at shs.150000 and whenever I try to contact her, she keeps on promising that she is preparing and that very soon she will be paying me. Am tired and it is from this point that I am asking president Museveni to kindly intervene in our issue before the situation worsens because we are financially facing a lot of hardships’’.
Mr Rwakakyaka Moses another complainant and a resident of Bwambara sub- county Rukungiri district at the same time the former Vice chairperson of Boona Bageigahare Nyekundire Group accused Ms Rugambwa for failing to fulfill what she promised the poor local people of Rukungiri district after collecting a lot of money from them.
‘’ Ms Rugambwa collected a lot of money from poor local people of Rukungiri district because every person who joined Boona Bageigahare Nyekundire Group paid shs. 12000. Very many people joined because they were promised a lot of things like mattresses, beddings, cows, goats, sheep , chicks among others. That’s why very many people joined the group with a lot of hopes of benefitting’’ Mr Rwakakyaka said.
Mr Rwakakyaka added that ‘’ After collecting such millions from the poor people of Rukungiri , Ms Rugambwa left the district without fulfilling what she had promised. Am therefore asking the president of the Republic of Uganda H.E. YK Museveni to intervene in this issue because Ms Rugambwa stole a lot of money from poor Ugandans promising them heaven and earth.
When contacted for a comment Ms Peace Rugambwa, the senior presidential advisor on agriculture and local people rejected the accusations, saying that those accusing her are aiming at tarnishing her name and public image.
‘’ Yes the people of Rukungiri paid Shs. 12000 but that money was membership which is not refundable and the things which I promised very soon we are launching the distribution exercise ‘’ Ms Rugambwa said.
