KANUNGU .
The five orphaned children whose family home was at risk of being taken by Centenary Bank can now breathe a sigh of relief after Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara said he has cleared the loan that had put the house at risk.
Balaam made the announcement on Friday, days after his visit to Kanungu as part of his ongoing “Expose the Corrupt” campaign.
The issue came up during one of the minister’s public engagements in the district, where one of the children spoke about the family’s difficult situation.
According to Balaam, the children’s uncle had taken a bank loan using the family home as security and later disappeared, leaving the five children facing the possibility of losing the property.
On Friday, Balaam said he had paid the outstanding loan in full.
“The outstanding loan has been cleared to ZERO,” he said via X.
He said the next step will be to have the title transferred into the names of the five children and have a caveat placed on the property to protect it from being sold or used as security again.
The minister also said the children will be supported in their education up to Senior Six.
Balaam thanked the new Kanungu District LC5 Chairman, Byamukama, for offering the children scholarships at his school.
He said the chairman, together with the children’s aunt and caretaker, would be tasked with following up on the children’s welfare, education and protection.
The intervention comes as Balaam’s anti-corruption campaign continues to attract attention across Kigezi. His recent tour of the region has seen residents raise a number of complaints about government services, corruption and the handling of public resources.
In Kanungu, the minister held meetings with residents and district leaders and later ordered several officials to step aside over allegations that are expected to be investigated.
