KAMPALA – Three officials from of Tororo Municipal council including the Town clerk Muzamir Aku, the municipal Engineer Denis Okatch and Shadrack Etutu; a Road inspector have been charged before the Anti-corruption court with abuse of their respective offices and conspiracy to cause loss to government in unlawful purchases of Fuel, spare car parts and mechanical works.
The three have become the first victims of the newly created State House anti-corruption unit led by Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema to be arraigned before courts of law for alleged corruption.
The trio that was paraded before the Chief Magistrate Pamela Ocaya of the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo-Kampala have been charged with several corruption charges ranging from conspiracy to defraud government of over Shs115m, four counts of abuse of office to four counts of causing financial loss to government.
The three officials got in trouble after the recently launched State House Anti-corruption unit got a tip-off from the Tororo Municipal MP Apollo Yeri about the creation of fake road maintenance reports and successfully launched an investigation that led to the arrest of the trio who could not account for materials including culverts.
The Unit led by Lt Col Nakalema questioned works on Osukuru, Okello Owor and Omaido works where it was established that the works and maintenances included in the accused’s reports were non-extent.
Prosecution led by Ms Alice Komuhangi states that the trio during the month of December 2018, at Tororo Municipal council requisitioned, processed and made payments to Total fuel service station and to companies that sell car spare parts without following procurement procedures.
The three are also faulted for requisitioning and receiving 11.3 million shillings as a gratuity to casual workers well knowing that such a category is not entitled to gratuity.
The Trio has however denied the charges and Aku is remanded to Luzira prison for lack of substantial sureties to stand for him while Okatch and Etutu have been each granted a cash bail of Shs7 million.
Also in the same court, Mr Herbert Kivuma, the Senior Physical Planner of Kasaganti Town Council in Wakiso District, was charged for allegedly soliciting for a bribe of Shs720,000 from Allan Asimwe to have his plan approved.
The prosecution states that Mr Kivuma had refused to approve the house plan of Mr Asiimwe until first paid the money.
To that effect, Mr Asiimwe first made an instalment of Shs320,000 leaving a balance of Shs400,000. Mr Asiimwe then reported Mr Kivuma to Nakalema’s anti-graft unit that gave him the remaining balance which notes were marked.
On January 17, Mr Kivuma was trapped and arrested after finding the marked money and the house plan which was not approved in his office.