Staff Writer
Suspended Agricultural Business Development Agency (Agribusdev) Managing Director, Petrus Uugwanga was found dead on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.
According to the Police, Uugwanga’s body was found in Otjimuise with a gunshot wound to the chest. A pump action shotgun found lying few meters from the body.
“The body was lying next to a Grey Amarok Volswagen D/Cab which is registered in the name of the deceased,” Namibian Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi said.
“The motive is not known and there was no suicide note left behind. The deceased was an employee of Agricultural Business Development (AgriBusDev). His family reported him missing to the police on yesterday when he apparently left the house early in the morning but had not returned later in afternoon of that same day.
His next of kin has been informed.”
Uugwanga was suspended in June by the parastatal board pending an investigation into various allegation leveled against the company.
Under suspension, Uugwanga retained his salary and benefits and was aimed at allowing the board to institute a thorough investigation in the government agency. Agribusdev has struggled to meet its role of improving the country’s food security amidst budget cuts, drought and other considerations over the last several years.
Agribusdev under the leadership of Uugwanga, has faced a barrage of negative allegations over the years including, but not limited to cases of alleged mismanagement and favoritism in the organization’s tender awarding process.
The government agency’s precarious financial position has caused it to struggle to pay suppliers and salaries at some of its green schemes.
Earlier this year, Windhoek Observer reported that the company awarded a multimillion-dollar fertilizer supply tender to South African company, Kynoch. However, that company’s Namibian agent was an employee of the government agency and had not bid for the tender.
Further investigations about Uugwanga’s death are underway. Police reports will be forthcoming at the appropriate time.
