At least twelve (12) Apac staff members have been interdicted over the theft of funds meant for cattle restocking and the Parish Development Model in the district.

tndNews, Uganda, has been told that the shs30m has been recovered from government officials who mismanaged funds meant for the Parish Development Model (PDM) and cattle restocking in Maruzi North County, Apac district.

The Maruzi North County Member of Parliament, Bernard Otim Odoc, said he’s fighting corruption among government officials at the sub-county level.

Odoc, in an interview with our reporter, said that the crime constitutes an abuse of office, especially by parish and sub-county chiefs.

MP Odoc alleged that out of 126 persons profiled to receive the cattle restocking funds, only 60 rightful beneficiaries received their money.

He stated that the names of 20 others were included on the payment list, and the money was deposited in their names, but no one ever received any kind of payment.

The MP encouraged those who have not yet received the money to be patient while the process continues.

According to the MP, immediately after about shs30 million was recovered from both sub-county and parish leaders in Maruzi North, all the funds were disbursed to the right beneficiaries.

He pledged to continue helping in monitoring all government programs to ensure that all allocated funds reach the right beneficiaries.

“However, as leaders, we are not going to sit and watch, but we shall fight for their rights. While people think they are good at stealing government funds, the law will take action against them,” he said.

Apac district CAO, Emmy Olaboro Ejuka, when contacted for comment, said: “It is true that over 12 staff, both parish and sub-county chiefs from Maruzi North, have been interdicted from work on allegations that they misused funds worth shs30 million meant for cattle restocking and the Parish Development Model (PDM).”

Ejuka stated that investigations are ongoing and that no one is allowed to continue operating until the matters raised against them are concluded. However, he did not accept their names as investigations are still ongoing.

The CAO added that the officers have been indicted on allegations of mismanaging the government’s cattle restocking program. The interdiction is to allow the Police to carry out their investigation and find out whether they are capable or not.

He continued that it is a temporary measure for officers in service, as provided by the law, that when an allegation is raised against you in a criminal matter, for the police to do their part, you must step aside from work while the process continues.