Lira | Accountability issues were raised following the presentation of community-based reports to the Lira City East Division council on March 19, 2025.
Some community groups were approved before 2021 to receive Discretionary Development Equalisation Grants (DDEG) totaling more than shs12 million.
As the investigation began, councillors, led by deputy speaker Hassan Moses Okwang, approved shs6 million in other local revenue sources to support the three affected community groups.
The groups are: Karwot-oyee women’s group, Anyomorem visionary group, and Nenacalomegi group. Each will get shs2m.
Deputy Speaker Okwang, who presided over the recent council meeting, raised the issue of missing funds intended for groups in Lira City East.
He later directed the division mayor and town clerk to conduct thorough investigations into the incident.
Charles Opio Olol, the secretary of finance, revealed that community groups were chosen to benefit from the DDEG before 2021.
Olol informed the council that the town clerk position has changed three times since 2021.
He stated that the accounting officers, Sam Okello, Emmanuel Komakech, and Jimmy Angole, were town clerks who were all aware of the funds.
“Due to a lack of continuity and accountability in managing the DDEG funds, it was difficult to track the records,” he told councillors.
Another challenge he mentioned was that they were unable to track the records of community groups because they (the current council) were not in office at the time.
By Regina Lalam Olal.
Discover more from tndNews, Uganda
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.