Amolatar police approve Wednesday [today] demo: “It is a constitutional right.”

Amolatar | Paul Samuel Mbiiwa, Amolatar District Chief Administrative Officer, was summoned to Amolatar Central Police Station on Tuesday to record a statement.

The CAO is accused of abusing his position and misusing public funds.

According to DPC SP Katumba Christopher, Mbiiwa recorded a statement to assist police with their investigation into the allegations.

He was eventually released on bond. The investigation has not ended.

In reference to the planned peaceful demonstration by disgruntled community members on Wednesday over top district officials’ mismanagement of public funds, DPC Katumba stated that police will only allow the demonstration on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

“It is a constitutional right,” he stated. This is the first territorial police-approved demonstration in Lango in many years.

tndNews understands that the CAO’s arrest was linked to an ultimatum issued by Felix Adupa Ongwech, a member of the ruling NRM party.

Ongwech is the president of the Transformer Cadres Association, a group of politicians who have lost previous elections on the NRM ticket.

Adupa told this publication that the demonstration is intended to raise public awareness of grievances about suspected abuse of office and public funds by some Amolatar district officials.

A case of abuse of office, corruption, and abuse of public funds has been filed against the CAO, Chief Finance Officer (CFO) Ongony Sylvester, Internal Auditor Obim Alex, and Assistant Accountant – Engineering Department, Otima Samuel.

Also read: Amolatar arrests owuwuks’ DPC and key subordinates

Others include Esegu Gladys, Secretary for works; Onyang Sam Peter, Chairperson of the road committee; and Orec Edward, District engineer.

The allegation on GEF 11/2024 was reported by Ongwech.

Monitoring

While monitoring the road works last week, Adupa gave CAO a four-day deadline to account for road funds and road rehabilitation funds for fiscal year 2023/2024.

The funds were intended to be used to improve the Bangala-Katangira to Acii road (13.7 kilometres). This road received shs131 million. These roads lack siganges, murrum, offshoots, and culverts, as outlined in the BOQ.

Other roads visited included Ayamawele, Akol, and Lubiri.

Only 23 culverts of 6 metres and 12 culverts of 9 metres were found on some of these roads, out of the 28 culverts proposed in the budget.

The Odongoyere road in Etam sub-county was stated to be complete in the report, but actual findings on the ground revealed no work had been done.

Okori Peter, the LC3 chairperson of Acii sub-county, wondered if the district also considers the Acii road, which connects Acii, Kangaira, and Banagala, to be under construction because there are no fixed culverts there.

There are no levelled murrams or fixed offshoots because the area is swampy.

Okori added that the road is impassable during the rainy season due to flooding.

He claimed that they were misled in May into believing that an excavator would be used to raise the swampy area, but that this is still a topic of discussion.

Also read: Lira City boda riders want DPC Ruganza’s transfer cancelled

Because of the poor state of the roads, his people travel long distances to access social services, particularly expectant mothers and school-aged children.

Betty, who sells chicken in Mucora and Acii, stated that her business is primarily affected by poor road conditions when it rains.

She blamed the district authorities for failing to carry out their mandate.

Majid, an Acii resident and boda boda rider, stated that they have to ride longer distances via Naveyo, but most clients refuse to pay the charges they request, claiming that the journey is expensive.