The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has arrested two officials from Obongi District and a contractor for allegedly diverting shs74 million from the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP).
The Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) is intended to address expanded development needs by the refugee hosting districts in the country.
Ivan Opio Onapa, the District Engineer, Geoffrey Tako, Desk Officer for the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP), and Fisher Martin, a contractor were arrested on orders of Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria, the Deputy Inspector General of Government.
This followed numerous complaints from the community members and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), and subsequent investigations conducted.
"Investigations conducted by IG show that the engineer and desk officer colluded with Mr. Fisher and changed the approved standard plans of construction of the doctors’ houses in health centres by the Ministry of Health to suit their selfish interests, contrary to the DRDIP operations manual," IGG said.
The trio is accused of changing the solid concrete walling to brick walling, the steel roofing works to timber roofing works, and never carried out test results for the ring beam, concrete bases and column stubs.
"They did not carry out any technical study of the effects of changing the approved plan on the building quality, strength and cost implication."
According to IGG investigations, the total contract amount for the construction of the doctor’s house at Itula Health Centre III is shs 250 million.
The contractor had issued two certificates amounting to hs91,230,000 for the works so far done.
The district officials however inflated the payment to shs 113,879000, causing a financial loss of shs22,649,000.
Further investigations show that the DRDIP desk officer diverted shs 52,000,000 meant for Yenga HH Cooked Stove and Briquettes sub-project to another unapproved sub-project without following the stipulated procedure.
"The actions of the two district officials and contractor resulted in the loss of a total shs 74 million. This undermines the objective of the project which is to improve the livelihood of the communities in the districts and improve service delivery," the IGG said.
The trio is set to be arraigned before the Anti Corruption Court, later today, Thursday.
The DRDIP project addresses the unmet social, economic and environmental needs identified in the local host communities in fifteen districts of Arua, Terego, Madi-Okollo, Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo, Obongi and Adjumani in West Nile sub-region, Lamwo in Acholi subregion, Kiryandongo, Kikuube and Hoima in Bunyoro sub-region and Isingiro, Kamwenge and Kyegegwa in South West sub-region.