Three Tororo Municipality officials remanded over theft of shs54m
The State House Anti Corruption Unit in conjunction with Tororo police have arrested and subsequently remanded three municipal officers accused of theft.
The remanded officers include, the Municipal education officer Teddy Makola, the Amagoro parish councilor Andrew Omuye and head teacher of Morukatipe View primary school, Eunice Joy Nanjala.
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According to the charge sheet, the three with another suspect, David Oronoi currently on the run are accused of stealing shs52 million, part of the shs204 million sent to Morukatipe View primary school by municipal council as part of disturbance compensation after the school got affected by the Standard Gauge Railway.
The state represented by George Semukete preferred two charges of theft contrary to section 237 and 244 of the Penal Code Act and conspiracy to commit a felony section 390 of the Penal Code Act.
The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Meanwhile, the suspects were denied bail by the Tororo principal grade one magistrate Elijah Iradukunda following a request from the suspects, defence counsel Robinah Aketch of Aketch &Co. Advocates.
Iradukunda said he cannot grant the trio bail because one of their co-accused is currently on the run and releasing them would jeopardize investigations.
The state also asked the court to issue an arrest warrant to David Oroni of which the magistrate okayed.
The suspects have been remanded until August, 7, 2024.
Meanwhile, the arrests of the team has generated mixed reactions with others arguing that they have been arrested for standing for the truth of having Morukatipe View primary school constructed where the community wants.
Speaking to the media after the court session, the municipal education officer said whatever is happening to her is a result of her love to serve his people diligently.
Around December last year, the municipal council received a compensation of about shs1.16billion after Morikatipe View Primary School land got affected by Standard Gauge Railway project.
The cash is meant for land purchase and construction of school structures.
However, to date the Municipal Council has not even purchased land where the school is to be relocated due to conflict of interest between the technical and political heads.
