ARRESTED ARUA CITY ENGINEER AND PROCUREMEBT OFFICER RELEASED ON POLICE BOND

Arua City engineer Charles Omona inside police patrol car following his arrest last week at the Woko bridge construction site in Ayivu Division (All photos by Onzoma Albert)

By Onzoma Albert

Arua City

Arua City Engineer Charles Omona and Procurement Officer Jimmy Omale who were arrested on September 18, 2026, following directives from the Minister for Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama, have since been released on police bond as investigations into the matter continue.

The officials were detained during the minister’s infrastructure tour after failing to satisfactorily explain the three-year delay and allegations of mismanagement surrounding the Woko Bridge construction project in Ayivu Division.

Arua City Resident City Commissioner Rt Maj Betty Akello Otekat, confirmed that the officials cooperated fully during investigations by providing the necessary information, which led to their release.

“Some of the officers who were arrested last week including the Arua city engineer, Ayivu division engineer and the city procurement officer on the orders of minister of works and transport, fully cooperated during the course of investigations and the team then realized that they had questions to answer but again they were also able to provide more and relevant information to the issues surrounding Woko bridge construction project,” she said.

Akello, further explained the circumstances under which the arrested officials were released appealing to the public to remain calm as investigations continue into the matter.

“The team could now not see any reason why they should be transported to Kampala for more inquiries and they were released on police bond however it doesn’t mean that they don’t have anything to answer, the investigations are still continuing if our people see them around let them not think that they paid bribe to be bailed out or released as investigations into the matter still continues,” she added.

Arua City procurement officer Jimmy Omale inside police patrol car following his arrest on the orders of the works and transport minister at the Woko bridge construction site in Ayivu Division.

The officials are accused of misappropriating approximately UGX 266 million out of the UGX 583 million allocated for the bridge. Despite the significant allocation and repeated contract extensions, issues of substandard work became evident.

The minister discovered shoddy construction practices, including the demolition of the bridge’s initial base and the presence of only an empty pit at the site.

Investigations are also examining the use of substandard materials that contributed to the poor workmanship and the subsequent demolition.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit is actively investigating the project, collaborating with authorities to track down the contractor and other potentially involved local officials.

The Woko Bridge project has become highly controversial due to delays, substandard construction, and financial irregularities. The community of Nyio, where the project is located, continues to demand accountability.

The abandoned excavation site poses a safety hazard, with residents pleading for the installation of temporary safety pipes to protect crossing children while the investigation proceeds.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis