Interdicted Bukwo District Production and Marketing Officer Franklin Kitiyo has spoken out following Minister for Local Government Balaam Barugahara’s visit to the district, calling for greater transparency in the management of government projects.

Kitiyo, who was among district officials interdicted during the minister’s visit, says one of the major lessons from the exercise is the need for government officials to share project information with the public.

Speaking after the minister’s visit, Kitiyo said keeping information within government offices while failing to involve the public can create suspicion, misunderstandings and unnecessary conflicts.

He argued that communities should be given access to information about government projects and should be allowed to participate in monitoring their implementation.

Kitiyo also warned against what he described as filtering information from the general public, saying lack of information can create room for people to attach personal and political motives to administrative issues.

He said some of the personal and political conflicts witnessed in the district could have been avoided if there had been better communication and openness.

Meanwhile, Kitiyo has maintained that he is innocent of any allegations of mismanagement of public funds or corruption.

He says he is ready to stand by his record and insists that he has not engaged in corruption or misuse of public resources.

His comments come after Minister Balaam’s visit, which resulted in the interdiction of several Bukwo District officials as investigations into service delivery and management of public resources continue.