Oyam CAO’s aide, Obangkwon, held for obtaining money by false pretence

The Police in Oyam district have launched an investigation into allegations of corruption and obtaining money by false pretence against Obangkwon Mark, 55.

Obangkwon serves as a Senior Assistant Secretary in the office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Oyam district local government.

According to SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police PRO, the suspect is a resident of Agoa Cell, Eastern Ward, in Oyam Town Council.

SP Okema stated that the report was filed after the CAO of Oyam district contacted the office of the District Internal Security Officer (DISO) regarding the incident.

The PRO said: “It is alleged the Oyam District Local Government advertised job vacancies under Reference DSC/OYM/10/26. Among the applicants was Otyang Ronald, who had applied for the position of Education Assistant II, pending vetting and appointment by the District Service Commission.”

On March 17, 2026, Ogwal Dick, the brother of Otyang Ronald, visited the Human Resource Officer at the Oyam district headquarters to follow up on the gratuity application for his late father, Ogwang Joe.

During this visit, he met the suspect, Obangkwon Mark, who introduced himself as the Deputy CAO of Oyam. The suspect allegedly claimed he could influence the District Service Commission to award Ogwal’s brother the job, but only if he was given a certain amount of money.

The two later exchanged phone contacts, and Ogwal Dick shared the suspect’s contact with his brother, Otyang Ronald, the victim.

On March 19, 2026, the victim called the suspect, who again identified himself as the Deputy CAO. The suspect instructed the victim to meet him at his home in Oyam Upper Centre, and to bring shs50,000.

The victim delivered the money the following day on March 20, 2026, and the suspect promised to use his position to influence the District Service Commission to appoint him to the teaching position.

Subsequently, the suspect demanded an additional shs2,000,000 from the victim. The victim pleaded that he could not raise that amount but managed to gather shs800,000.

The suspect then told him to bring shs700,000. To obtain this sum, the victim mortgaged his land to Sarah Awele on March 28, 2026, securing only shs600,000.

The victim later went to the Oyam district headquarters to deliver the money to the suspect. While there, he asked to be directed to the CAO’s office, hoping to meet Obangkwon Mark.

However, he instead met Kitutu Fredrick Herbert, the official CAO of Oyam, who informed him that Obangkwon Mark was not the Deputy CAO and was falsely masquerading in that role.

The CAO immediately contacted the DISO’s office, and police were engaged. On March 27, 2026, the suspect was arrested red-handed while receiving shs480,000 from the victim. He was subsequently handed over to Oyam Police Station, where investigations commenced.

A case file has been opened at Oyam Central Police Station to investigate the allegations. The crime scene was visited, processed, and documented by the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO), alongside police and other security agencies.

Statements have been recorded from the victim, Abdul, and other relevant witnesses. Exhibits, including cash amounting to shs480,000, were recovered and properly documented.

The suspect remains in police custody as the case file is being prepared for submission to the Resident State Attorney (RSA) for perusal and legal guidance.

“Police strongly condemn the actions of corrupt public officers and encourage members of the public to report such cases for arrest and investigation,” SP Okema said in a statement on Tuesday.

Police authorities have also cautioned the public against attempting to obtain positions through illicit payments, urging them to distance themselves from such offenses.