16 MARACHA DISTRICT STAFF ARRESTED OVER ALLEGED MISMANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS

By Dramadri Federick

Arua city

Sixteen staff members of Maracha District Local Government have been arrested following allegations of mismanagement and misuse of public funds.

The arrests were ordered by the Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, during his inspection of government projects and service delivery in the district.

Among those arrested are the District Education Officer, Asiki Michael Maxwell, and District Inspector of Schools, Abidrabo Stella, who are accused of inflating learner numbers in schools and allegedly allocating themselves 21 million shillings for the inspection of two school facilities.

Also arrested are Chief Finance Officer Candia Stephen, District Service Commission Chairperson Dracaku Felix and its Secretary, Dr Florence Deboru, over alleged irregular recruitment processes.

Head teachers of Koyi and Midria Primary Schools were also arrested over allegations of inflating learner enrolment figures.

Meanwhile, the Assistant District Engineer, Endria Herbert, is allegedly on the run and is being sought by authorities in connection with the allegations.

The arrests followed Minister Barugahara’s visit to Kololo Seed Secondary School, where he was reportedly told by learners that some students were being charged 80,000 shillings in school fees without lunch.

The Minister subsequently ordered the arrest of the school head teacher, Yiki George, and PTA Chairperson Asea Peter, amid allegations of financial impropriety involving about 860 million shillings.

The arrests come a day after seven Parish Development Model managers were arrested over alleged irregular payments and extortion.

Maracha District Chairperson Wani Emmanuel admitted that there are concerns over corruption in the district, citing what he described as panic among some technocrats. “The political environment and the temperature in the district has been beyond the boiling point. This explains why I am putting on a black trouser. In the case of leakages here, I don’t want it to be seen before the camera.” Wani said.

However, the Maracha Chief Administrative Officer, Erisu Peter Emwos disputed some of the allegations, saying several accusations against the arrested technocrats were false.

“When you come they should have said that there is a 40 million, 62 million. Those are not true. Those are not true. We are working based on the BOQ. The only issue that for example maybe people raise that they feel the structure was smaller than the amount of money,” Erisu defended.

Minister Barugahara directed the Chief Administrative Officer to interdict all the technical officers arrested, while the State House Anti-Corruption Unit investigates the allegations, “This claim should be independently investigated which I have ordered the Statehouse Anti-Corruption to act  now and CID, that whatever person has been named in this should face the law, the time of eating tax payers money has come to an end.”

All the arrested staff were detained at Maracha Central Police Station as investigations continue.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis