IGG ARRESTS THREE OVER UGX 50 MILLION GHOST FISH POND SCANDAL IN OBONGI DISTRICT

By Stephen Unzimai

Moyo

Obongi District Central Police Station is holding three people on allegations of corruption. The three suspects are Atiku Ratib Jafari, the LC 1 chairperson of Atipe Village, Ondoga Parish, Aliba Sub-county; Mogga Suleiman Yasin, the chairperson of the procurement committee; and Asiki Abdul Malik, the chairperson of the community project management.

Their arrest follows orders from the Inspectorate of Government (IGG).

SP Dragudu Ignatius, the Public relations officer for the North West Nile region police, reported that, the three were arrested on Tuesday, February 11, on allegations of involvement in a Uganda Shillings 50 million ghost fish pond project in Odonga East Village, Odonga Parish, Aliba Sub-county, Obongi District.

"These three were summoned by the office of the IGG, but they failed to appear to defend themselves against the allegations of mismanaging funds for the Odonga East fish pond project. As of now, they have been put behind bars to assist the government in its investigations," SP Dragudu reported.

SP Dragudu added that this is an anti-corruption case, and therefore, the three will appear before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala to answer charges of corruption.

Samuel Hashaka Mpimbaza, the RDC Obongi, confirmed the arrests and stated that the three are been under IGG investigation.

"The three people arrested are leaders of the Odonga fish pond project. This is a project that should have been completed about two years ago, but shockingly, to this day, it remains a ghost project. These individuals have been on the run after being investigated by the IGG, but their luck ran out. Although they had been hiding, they could not hide forever," Mr. Hashaka said.

Mr. Hashaka added that preparations to take them to the Anti-Corruption Court are ongoing.

Authorities are also investigating how the district authorized the release of over fifty million shillings for the fish pond project when there is no evidence of the fish pond itself.

This is not the first time the IGG has arrested officials from Obongi District. Last year, more than five officers were arrested.
The RDC clarified that the IGG is still handling several other cases in Obongi District.
 

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