Obongi District Officials, Contractor Arrested Over Alleged Diversion Of Funds
The suspects boarding a waiting Van shortly after their arrest. Courtesy Photo
OBONGI. The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has arrested two officials from Obongi District Local Government and a contractor for allegedly diverting Shs74m from the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP).
The suspects were identified in a press release as; Ivan Opio Onapa, the Obongi District Engineer, Geoffrey Tako, the district Desk Officer for the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP) and Fisher Martin, a contractor.
They were arrested on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, on the orders of Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria, the Deputy Inspector General of Government following numerous complaints from the community members and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), and subsequent investigations conducted.
“They are currently detained at the Kampala Central Police Station. Investigations conducted by IG show that the Engineer and Desk Officer colluded with Mr. Fisher and changed the approved standard plans of construction of the doctors’ houses in health centres by the Ministry of Health to suit their selfish interests,” the press release read in part.
“This is contrary to the DRDIP Operations Manual. They changed the solid concrete walling to brick walling, the steel roofing works to timber roofing works, and never carried out test results for the ring beam, concrete bases and column stubs. They did not carry out any technical study of the effects of changing the approved plan on the building quality, strength and cost implication,” the press release adds.
According to investigations, the total contract amount for the construction of the Doctor’s house at Itula Health Centre III is Shs250m. The contractor had issued two certificates amounting to Shs91,230,000 for the works so far done.
The district officials, however, inflated the payment to Shs113,879000, causing a financial loss of Shs22,649,000.
Further investigations show that the DRDIP Desk Officer diverted Shs52,000,000 meant for Yenga HH Cooked Stove and Briquettes sub-project to another unapproved sub-project without following the stipulated procedure.
The actions of the two district officials and contractor resulted in the loss of a total of Shs74m.
“This undermines the objective of the project which is to improve the livelihood of the communities in the districts and improve service delivery. They are set to be arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday 1st August, 2024,” the IG officials said.
About DRDIP
The Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) is intended to address expanded development needs by the refugee hosting districts in the country.
The project addresses the unmet social, economic and environmental needs identified in the local host communities in fifteen districts of Arua, Terego, Madi-Okollo, Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo, Obongi and Adjumani in West Nile sub-region, Lamwo in Acholi subregion, Kiryandongo, Kikuube and Hoima in Bunyoro sub-region and Isingiro, Kamwenge and Kyegegwa in South West sub-region.
Anya Mgbolo le ma de yi raa angu ama ni lele tu westnile ni zoo zuu