Ex-Amuria district engineer Ewonya at large – summoned for corruption

Amuria | The state Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Rose Lilly Akello, and the Amuria district security are looking for PDM town agents and the former district senior Engineer to answer questions about corruption in various district projects.

During her official inspection in Amuria district, Minister Akello issued an order for criminal summons against former district engineer Julius Ewonya and PDM agent Philip Odong, a Town Agent of Father Toba Ward in Asamuk Town Council, for the identified corruption.

In the fiscal year 2022/2023, the former district Engineer, Ewonya Julius, built a 120-meter murram road leading to the district parking yard for shs 8,000,000.

District officials, including Chief Administrative Officer Akurut Angella, expressed concern over the situation and accused Ewonya of inflating the project’s Bill of Quantities.

The CAO has placed Ewonya Julius on leave (pending investigation) due to his corrupt behaviour.

Minute 565/works 2021-2022 005 allocated shs599,999,196 for the construction of a new office block for the District Local Government in fiscal year 2021/2022. Despite the fact that the money was disbursed two years ago, progress on the project has been slow.

Allegations state that the former district engineer failed to supervise the project and persuaded the contractor, CAB Uganda Limited, to misappropriate funds.

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On the same day, October 14, 2023, Odong Philip, a Town Agent for Father Atoba Ward in Asamuk Town Council, paid shs2,000,000 to two members of the same household, Oriokot Nicholas and Atim Sandra (a married couple), in violation of PDM guidelines. 

Odong also paid shs1,000,000 to his girlfriend, whose name was not disclosed and who does not live in Amuria.

Atim admitted to receiving the PDM funds alongside her husband, and she was summoned to provide a statement.

Despite the summons, the duo never appear on a voluntary basis, prompting the Minister to direct the district’s security to look for the duo at large.

On the same note, the Minister raised another issue: the LC5 Chairperson Moses Emabu misappropriated a deep water source intended for the Apeduru sub-county.

In February 2024, the community of Moru-Akinei village in Omariai parish, Apeduru sub-county, was designated to receive a borehole.

However, LC5 Chairman Emabu redirected the source and had it installed at his home in Odukut village, Ogolai Parish, Ogolai Sub-county.

The residents of Apeduru sub-county are dissatisfied with the chairman’s actions and intend to stage a protest over the water crisis, particularly in their area.

Okello Godfrey Kennedy, the Water Officer and Acting District Engineer, explains that they had planned to drill a water source in Odebei village rather than Moru-Akinei as previously stated, but the contractor reported technical challenges due to water scarcity, prompting the change of site.

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After receiving the technical report, he wrote to the CAO, who notified the District Executive Committee (DEC), which decided to change the village name to Odukut.

Moses Emabu stated that due to technical difficulties, they decided to relocate the borehole to Odukut, emphasising that Odukut residents are entitled to the same benefits as other citizens.

He also stated that there is no law that prevents such a project from being awarded to him simply because he is from that village.

Paul Esogu, the district councillor for Apeduru sub-county, emphasised the overall water scarcity challenge and its impact on water coverage.

He mentioned that SACCADIDO once offered a grant of up to shs1.5 billion for a water source capable of serving four villages, but the project was stalled due to the same issue.

Minster Akello, on the other hand, warns technical and political leaders against politicking instead of promoting service delivery, stating that when leaders engage in fights, the locals lose.

She directed the district to remove corrupt servants, claiming that such people prioritise their own personal interests.

By Robert Edwomu.