Detailed account of why Kalaki CAO was arrested 

Kalaki | On Tuesday, State Minister for Ethics and Integrity Rose Lilly Akello ordered the arrest of Christopher Okuum, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kalaki district.

Okuum, who was arrested shortly after, is accused, among other things, of refusing to provide relevant files containing information about fund embezzlement.

To ensure equitable resource allocation, the Minister is conducting countrywide accountability tours in local governments.

During a meeting with district technical and political leaders, as well as other anti-corruption agencies, a number of corruption-related issues were identified, prompting the Minister to act.

Okuum was sent to the State Coolers after failing to provide the required documents to the Minister and her team.

The CAO is accused of diverting shs17,000,000 intended for work on the Opilitok-Kaberpila Road [3.5km] in Otuboi sub-county in fiscal year 2022/2023.

According to information, the road project was not completed because funds were diverted by Euchu George, a former Senior Assistant Chief Administrative Officer [SACAO].

 Although Euchu George promised in writing to return the diverted funds to the current Senior Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Abongi Patrick, on October 17, 2023, the road has not yet been completed, and he has not kept his word.

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The CAO was also accused of embezzling shs350,000,000 intended for the rehabilitation of the Abalanga-Imat-Amua-Surambaya Road.

According to reports, Kalaki district Engineer Kyazze Ronald and Assistant Engineer Odyoyo Peter misappropriated the above funds set aside for road rehabilitation in the fiscal year 2021/2022.

During an inspection conducted by the district road committee in 2022, it was discovered that the road works were not based on the available Bill of Quantities and did not reflect the value for money allocated for the rehabilitation work.

The following anomalies were discovered: the bridge connecting Kalaki and Alebtong districts [had] collapsed, the road had no offshoots, there was no gravel surfacing, and road signs were not installed.

The arrest of the CAO followed the impeachment of Town Clerk Eliau Richard and Treasurer Opali James on allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement, and misuse of public funds, all of which had an impact on service delivery.

However, the district council has accused the town clerk and treasurer of mismanagement of public funds from 2019 to the present, as follows.

Despite a budget allocation of shs 29,300,000 in the fiscal year 2019/2020, Kalaki Town Council has not developed a physical plan since its inception in 2019.

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The contractor, Ms. SAO Engineering Consultants Limited, received only shs9,000,000, leaving shs20,300,000 unaccounted for.

In the fiscal year 2020/2021, shs18,000,000 was budgeted for the physical plan, with shs4,000,000 paid to the contractor Ms. SAO Consultants Ltd, but no activity was completed, leaving shs14,000,000 unaccounted for.

The office furniture, which was budgeted for shs2,800,000 in the fiscal year 2020/2021, was never delivered, and the funds remain unaccounted for.

Several other budgeted projects, such as the construction of a garbage bunker, the procurement of tree seedlings, and incomplete projects, are under Eliau Richard’s supervision, including the Kalaki Town Council Administration Block, which began in 2019 with a shs100,000,000 startup fund.

Gaddafi Construction Company Limited, the project’s contractor, abandoned Phase II due to nonpayment despite full funding. Land acquisition for a cemetery was not completed, and the funds remain unaccounted for.

The Town Clerk, Eliau Richard, has also been accused of misconduct, including habitual drinking during working hours, strained relationships with department heads, conflicts with his assistant, and mismanagement of garbage collection.

Failure by district officials to follow the District Roads Committee’s resolutions regarding the rehabilitation of some district roads.

On November 10, 2023, the district held a Roads Committee Meeting at the Council Hall, presided over by Ayoo Jennifer Nalukwago, the District Woman MP.

The meeting focused on the disbursement of road funds (IPFs) from the Ministry of Works and Transport, with Kalaki district receiving shs500,000,000 of the shs1 billion released to each district in the second quarter of the fiscal year 2023/2024.

Key issues discussed included prioritising areas for road rehabilitation in the second quarter, with the 17km Kalaki-Otuboi-Abalang-Bata road, which was allocated shs541,503,300, being given first priority.

The decision was motivated by the urgent need to address the deteriorating condition of this road.

However, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Okuum Christopher, District Engineer Emalu Francis, and District Chairperson, Okello Samuel, deviated from the committee’s resolution to prioritise the Kalaki-Otuboi-Abalang-Bata road.

They have instead focused on rehabilitating the 13.8-kilometer Otuboi-Anyara-Orungo road, which was already scheduled for construction in the third quarter of fiscal year 2023/2024 at a cost of shs234,624,050.

By Robert Edwomu.