KAMPALA: The Head of the State House Anti Corruption Unit Brig. Gen Henry Isoke said they are holding over 10 civil servants since the State Minister for Economic Monitoring Peter Ogwang started inspecting government projects in Wakiso district on Monday this week.
As of Friday, May 13, 2022, two Wakiso town council civil servants have been arrested including the clerk and town council engineer for failing to account for the money spent on some projects and shoddy works done in the town council.
The State House Anti Corruption Unit confirmed the arrest on Twitter, noting that of the arrest of the Wakiso town council Town Clerk and the Town Council Engineer raises the number of civil servants arrested to 12.
The Town Clerk- Livingston Mukalazi and the Town Council Engineer- Laurence Ssebugwowo of Wakiso town council were arrested over alleged mismanagement of Ugx. 45million COVID-19 funds, neglect of duty, and shoddy work.
Also, seven officials were arrested in Tororo over graft. In a joint operation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, and Uganda Police, 3 Directors of Tororo Lion’s Club Host Limited, the District Senior Lands Management Officer, Former Chairperson Area Land Committee, Municipal Engineer, and the Town Clerk were arrested.
Out of the seven officials, three Directors of Tororo Lion’s Club Host Limited, the District Senior Lands Management Officer, and Former Chairperson Area Land Committee have been arraigned at Tororo C Magistrate court, charged with obtaining registration by false pretense and conspiracy to defraud. They were later remanded.
The Directors of Tororo Lions Club Host Limited were arrested for conspiring with the Senior lands management officer and the Former Chairperson area land committee to unlawfully transfer public land comprised in plots 8-20 Busia road.
The subject land is being used as a children’s park.
In a related development, the rest of the two officials; the Tororo Municipality Town clerk and the Municipal Engineer were arrested over embezzlement of over Ugx 180 million funds meant to construct the Kagera bridge. After being charged at Tororo Chief Magistrate Court with forgery and Conspiracy to commit a felony, the two have been remanded until May 18.
While addressing the media in Wakiso regarding the numerous arrests, the Head of the State House Anti Corruption Unit Brig. Gen. Isoke cautioned the public to be watchful of government projects and corrupt civil servants who are mismanaging government funds. He noted that citizens have a big role to play in the fight against corruption.