The Statehouse Anticorruption Unit (SHAU) has arrested four top Bukwo district officials in the ongoing investigations into financial mismanagement in the district.
The six officials were arrested last week following a visit by SHAU’s senior legal officer, Peter Ndomugyenyi.
The arrested officials include Franklin Kitiyo, the district production officer; Chief Finance Officer Andrew Bukose, David Aliwa, who is the acting deputy chief administrative officer; and Catherine Cheptanui.
Others are Fred Sokuton Twalla, the district education officer, and Limo Chelimo, the Sokuton acting town clerk, on the Suam town council.
Ndomugyenyi’s visit came after the district made headlines when ghost projects were discovered under the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund phase III, leading to the loss of over Shs20b.
For Bukwo in particular, the officials allegedly spent Shs2b on ‘invisible’ access roads in the community.
“I can’t believe this and we can’t continue to keep these kinds of officers who are denying the community their right to development,” said Ndomugyenyi.
Bukwo resident district commissioner (RDC) Samuel Hashaka Mpimbaza said they were also shocked to read a report that these particular roads were worked on yet no grader even did any clearing.
“It is terrible here in Bukwo where officials use public resources at their liberty without any fear or following the right procedure,” he said.
Julius Chelimo, the district chairperson, said the community had started accusing him of not doing enough to lobby for their community, yet it is the officials at the district who have been embezzling the money meant for projects.