The community members display files they intended to handover to Matua. Photo by Godwin Abedican.

By Godwin Abedican

Arua

A section of community members from Kenya ward in Arua central division, Arua city on Thursday August 29, 2024, stormed the offices of the Resident City Commissioner while carrying PDM files, demanding the removal or transfer of Matua Job Richard, the Assistant Resident City Commissioner Arua citing political bias in execution of his duties.

Recently three different meetings were held at Arua Central division headquarters about Parish Development Model(PDM), Chaired by the Mayor Central Division, Mzaidi Khemis,  out of which there was a resolution to investigate the distribution of PDM funds from  the last batch of the 50 million shillings dispatched to beneficiaries in Kenya ward, after complaints were being raised that some beneficiaries up to 28 in number, were not from Kenya ward, reportedly included in the lists by the PDM officials in the ward.

Subsequently on Wednesday August 28, 2024, Matua Job Richard together with Muzaidi Khemis, led an operation with the security in the ward, to find out from the community members about the distribution of the funds out of which many beneficiaries testified that their names were deleted from lists of and other non-residents received monies.
 
Muzaidi Khemis, central division Mayor, during the PDM follow-up in Kenya zone.
Photo by Godwin Abedican.

This prompted the arrest of 11 people, PDM officials and some LCs, who were taken to police to record statements regarding the matter to help in investigations of the same.

However, what seemed to be a noble cause later turned political as residents faulted the Assistant RCC of taking sides while doing his work with some community members from the ward describing the arrests as being politically motivated

Mai Wadri a community member who belongs to the camp of Dr. Debo Ronald one who has simply shown interest in contesting says the RCC is dealing with the opposition against the NRM members.

“They are accusing these people of using PDM money to campaign for our incoming candidate Debo, something we don’t want to hear. I thought Matua is supposed to work closely with us. I don’t know who brought him here. To me the position of Assistant RCC is too big for Matua to handle. While people are trying to organize issues, he is organizing chaos by arresting them. No evidence yet, but he is already arresting people, we want him away from Arua,” she said bitterly.

Meanwhile, Drabezu Hellen, a PDM beneficiary from Kenya ward however maintains they were able to get monies and wonders why people are being arrested.
“We are not happy with what Matua is doing in Arua city. Was he sent here to come and disorganize NRM? We need someone who can bring us together, we work together and grow together to develop our homes. We don’t need arrests. Let him go away from here. We will go back and our leaders will work on our files to get monies but we no longer need Matua here,” Drabezu said. 

Ezama Ham Muzammil, the Deputy RCC Arua central division while addressing the community members who had stormed the offices advised the PDM officials who had threated to handover office to the Assistant RCC to continue with their work as their concerns are being looked into.

“Those who were arrested were arrested before investigations were carried out. In the wisdom of the RCC, he said he is going to convene a bigger meeting involving the stake holders, the security committee and all those who were aggrieved that we shall reach an appropriate understanding and resolutions. Therefore, from now they are not going to arrest anyone until the security committee has done its Part. We are sorry that there was an overlap in these operations but let the situation be calm as we wait for an appropriate decision by the security committee,” Ezama appealed.

While responding to the allegations of taking political sides and call for him to be removed from office, Matua denies this saying his interest is in following the monies that were wrongly given out.

“Over time there has been operations to bring sanity into PDM management. And in this case, the People in charge of PDM admitted that some of the people who got the money are not from Kenya ward. That matter did not involve any politics. We also found the procedures for giving out these monies were not followed. We came with some people who recorded statements and some were detained on the orders of the police not me,” he said.

About his removal he noted, “That I should not working here, my appointing authority is clear, the people who posted me are clear, I have not done anything wrong. That decision is not taken by myself; it is taken by the people who sent me here. I have not seen any problem I have caused here. There is no politics in it and I am not siding with anyone. I am following the PDM monies which have gone in wrong hands.”

The political accusations stem from the Assistant RCC residing in one of the hotels of a political leader in the city who is said to be an opponent of the said upcoming contestant, on which Matua says, it is choice to stay where he wants.

“Where I am residing is a hotel, it is a business place. I am there paying bills. So, if I go to get treatment from Rhema hospital, does it mean I am supporting Dr. Debo? So, should somebody want to decide for me where I should stay? Perhaps in the persons home? That is going beyond the lines,” Matua replied.

By press time all those who were arrested on August 29, 2024 had been released on police bond as the inquiries continue in to the matter under a general inquiry fine opened at Arua city central police station with Ref. No. GF135/2024.