A State House monitoring and anti-corruption operation in Lamwo district has resulted in the arrest of 15 officials as investigators widen a probe into alleged negligence, failure to perform assigned duties and accountability concerns in the management of government programmes.

The arrests followed an accountability meeting at the Lamwo district headquarters led by Yiga Kissakyamukama, the Special Presidential Advisor on Monitoring and Service Delivery.

The officials drawn from different departments and levels of local government were questioned over whether they had properly executed their responsibilities, supervised government programmes and acted on information relating to possible irregularities.

Among those named in the operation are Resident District Commissioner Komakech William, District Internal Auditor Geoffrey Nyeko and Lamwo District Internal Security Officer, Ogwal Jolly Joe.

Others include District PDM focal person Ogiki Joseph Douctas; Community Development Officer for Nyimur Sub-county Owiny David; former PDM focal person and current District Agricultural and Production Officer Ochira Wilfred; Emyooga focal person Kadugu Powel Alex; and Okot Geoffrey, a member of the loan committee for the Performing Artists Emyooga group in Lamwo County.

Those arrested or subjected to scrutiny were Nyeko Wilfred, the District Community Development Officer, Ocana Geoffery District YLP and UWEP Focal person, District Engineer Akena Leonard and Assistant Engineer in-Charge of Water, Atube Benson.

The education department was represented in the investigations by District Inspector of Schools Joro Ben Washington, while Principal Human Resources Officer Okeny Harriet Charity and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Laguu Samuel Jones were also named among the officials under scrutiny among others.

The State House operation has raised questions about the responsibilities of public officers whose offices are charged with ensuring that government policies, funds and services are properly managed.

The RDC, for instance, is responsible for representing the central government in the district and monitoring the implementation of government programmes, while the internal auditor is expected to provide independent checks on financial management and internal controls.

The Chief Finance Officer has responsibility for financial management and advising the district on public funds, while the Human Resources office oversees personnel administration.

Similarly, engineering officials are expected to supervise government infrastructure projects and ensure that works meet required standards, while education inspectors monitor schools and report on their performance.

The arrests therefore mark a significant expansion of the accountability operation beyond individual government programmes to the wider functioning of the district administration.

State House officials had earlier warned that accountability would not be limited to cases involving the alleged direct theft of public money.

Kissakyamukama told district leaders and technical officers that negligence, mismanagement of government resources and failure to report known irregularities could also attract investigation.

He said public officers who inherit problems from previous office bearers cannot simply distance themselves from those problems if information about them has been handed over to the new office holders.

“The warning is particularly significant for senior officials responsible for supervision. It places emphasis on the duty of officers to act when they receive information suggesting that public resources or government programmes are not being properly managed”. Kissakyamukama said.

The operation has also scrutinised PDM and Emyooga officials.

Three PDM officials were previously arrested after the monitoring team questioned them over programme implementation and management. The arrests followed concerns raised by Nyimur Sub-county councillor Ochola James over the management and distribution of PDM funds.

The district has received about sh34.5 billion under PDM, with more than sh21.3 billion already disbursed to beneficiaries across its 86 parishes. The Emyooga programme has also come under investigation over sh50 million allocated to performing artists in Lamwo County.

The State House monitoring team questioned officials over how the money was disbursed, who received it, loans issued and repayments.

Lamwo LC5 chairperson Oyet Sisto Ocen welcomed the accountability exercise but urged investigators to rely on evidence and technical scrutiny to distinguish genuine allegations from claims motivated by personal interests.

He said political leaders and technical officers have a responsibility to ensure government services reach vulnerable communities.

The investigations are expected to establish whether any officials failed in their statutory responsibilities, whether public resources were mismanaged and whether offences were committed.

The officials under investigation remain innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.