Four senior government officials from the Office of the Prime Minister have been arrested over procurement manipulation in COVID-19 food donations.
Head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit Col Edith Nakalema confirmed the arrest of the officials saying that they were inflating prices of maize flour and rice that were to be distributed to those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Nakelema said according to what her unit gathered, the officials were inflating prices and rejecting lower price offers from suppliers. The arrested officials include; Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Christine Kintu, Accounting Officer Joel Wanjara, Assistant Commissioner Procurement Fred Lutimba and Commissioner Disaster Management COVID-19 Martin Owori.
The four have been handed over to Kampala Metropolitan Police to record statements as further investigations are being carried out.
Today, the National Task Force is distributing food relief in the areas of Mengo and Kamwokya.