Written By | BK Mugizi
The accused are Opio Stanislas Francis, Acting District Engineer; Okello Samuel, Assistant Engineering Officer; and Oroni Herbert, Station Manager at Retta Solutions Uganda Ltd
Search
NGORA
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has arraigned two Ngora District officials and a private sector employee before the Ngora Grade One Magistrate’s Court on charges of theft and conspiracy to defraud.
The accused are Opio Stanislas Francis, Acting District Engineer; Okello Samuel, Assistant Engineering Officer; and Oroni Herbert, Station Manager at Retta Solutions Uganda Ltd. The trio has been remanded in custody until May 5, 2026.
According to the prosecution, the suspects, along with others still at large, allegedly conspired between 2024 and March 2026 to steal fuel valued at more than UGX 35 million.
The fuel, which is the property of Ngora District Local Government, was reportedly diverted under the false pretext that it was intended for road works within the district. 
The suspects, allegedly conspired between 2024 and March 2026 to steal fuel valued at more than Shs35 million
Investigations further reveal that during the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 financial years, Ngora District Local Government received a total of UGX 1.75 billion for road construction and maintenance.
However, concerns raised by community members and stakeholders over the poor state of roads triggered scrutiny, with allegations of substandard work linked to possible mismanagement of funds.
It is alleged that Okello Samuel frequently obtained fuel without proper authorisation or documentation, bypassing the required approval of the Acting District Engineer.
He is said to have diverted the fuel for unknown purposes, reportedly in collusion with Oroni Herbert.
Meanwhile, Opio Stanislas Francis is accused of failing to exercise adequate supervisory oversight, a lapse that investigators say enabled the misappropriation of fuel resources.
Suspects in the dock
The Government of Uganda regularly disburses funds to districts and municipalities to support road rehabilitation and maintenance.
However, ongoing investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit across the country continue to uncover cases of mismanagement, leading to the arrest and prosecution of several public officials.
Authorities say efforts to clamp down on corruption remain ongoing as part of a broader strategy to improve service delivery and accountability in local governments.
Torch Media Africa
