The State House Anti-Corruption Unit arrested four Kotido municipality officials on Friday evening over the mismanagement of Shs1 billion meant for road rehabilitation and maintenance in the 2024/2025 financial year.
The arrested officials are Emmanuel Okaja, the Town Clerk, Gasper Okidi, the Senior Civil Engineer, Deo Akello Nyanga, the Senior Internal Auditor, and John Bosco Lokure, the Assistant Inventory Officer.
According to Anti-Corruption Unit spokesperson Miriam Natasha, the officials allegedly embezzled over Shs200 million meant for procuring construction materials, including 1,735.7 trips of gravel, 250 bags of cement, 20 trips of hardcore, and 10 trips of sand.
“In addition, the town clerk and senior civil engineer are accused of neglecting their official duties by failing to supervise, monitor and ensure compliance with approved guidelines during construction and maintenance of several roads,” Natasha said.
The affected roads include Miresiae-Napawu Road, Morungor-Kotyanga Road, Nangayum-Kawlapei Road, Chairman’s Road, and Romrom-Nakutakuwam Road. Natasha emphasized that the unit aims to ensure allocated funds are used effectively for better service delivery.
“The unit is out to ensure that money allocated to various sectors across the country is maximally put to good use, for the betterment of service delivery,” she said.
Kotido resident Mark Lokwang called for a wider investigation involving politicians, saying they are part of the mismanagement of funds. “A wider investigation should also be done to involve politicians across Kotido district, saying that they are part of the accomplices in the mismanagement of funds sent to the districts,” Lokwang said.
“Even the district roads under Kotido district local government remain in a pathetic situation, yet they are told that each year money is allocated. So we equally think, this money is ever being eaten,” he added.
The arrested officials are expected to be arraigned in the Anti-Corruption Court soon. The case highlights concerns about road management in Karamoja, where poor infrastructure has been a contentious issue in ongoing campaigns.