KAMPALA
Four senior officials of Kotido Municipal Council have been arrested over the alleged misappropriation of funds meant for road rehabilitation and maintenance within Kotido Municipality. The arrests were carried out by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force in Kotido District. The officials are accused of offences linked to the misuse of approximately UGX 1 billion allocated for road works in the 2024/2025 financial year.
The suspects are Okaja Emmanuel, the Town Clerk; Okidi Gasper, the Senior Civil Engineer; Akello Deo Nyanga, the Senior Internal Auditor; and Lokure John Bosco, the Assistant Inventory Officer.
According to preliminary investigations, the officials allegedly conspired to embezzle more than UGX 200 million intended for the procurement of construction materials for various municipal roads. The materials in question include 1,735.7 trips of gravel, 250 bags of cement, 25 trips of hardcore, and 10 trips of sand, which investigators say were either not delivered or were irregularly accounted for.
Investigators further allege that the Town Clerk and the Senior Civil Engineer neglected their supervisory responsibilities by failing to properly monitor construction activities and ensure compliance with approved guidelines. As a result, several roads earmarked for rehabilitation and maintenance were either poorly worked on or not completed as planned. The affected roads include Miresiae–Napawu Road, Morungor–Kotyanga Road, Nangayum–Kawlapei Road, Chairman’s Road, Business Road, and Romrom–Nakutakuwam Road.
Authorities say inquiries are still ongoing to establish the full extent of the alleged financial loss and to identify any additional suspects who may have been involved.
The four officials are currently in custody and are expected to be arraigned before court to face charges related to abuse of office, embezzlement, and causing financial loss to government.
