Three Karenga District Officials Arrested Over Corruption Allegations

Public resources must be used for the benefit of the people. This serves as a wake-up call to all public officials to serve with integrity

Three senior officials have been arrested and detained at Karenga Central Police Station in Karenga district over allegations of embezzling public funds.

The suspects, identified as Omello John Bosco, the District Commercial Officer; Alfred Lokyan, the Minister for Works; and Nasur Charles, the District Water Engineer, were apprehended during a service delivery monitoring exercise on Thursday at the Karenga District headquarters.

The operation was led by Maj. Martha Asiimwe, Head of the RDC Secretariat/Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) in the Office of the President, in collaboration with Bamwine Fred, Commissioner for RDCs in the Karamoja region.

Speaking on the arrests, Maj. Asiimwe reaffirmed the government’s unwavering stance against corruption. “Corruption has no place in our country.

These arrests send a strong message that no one is above the law. We are committed to ensuring that those who misuse public funds are held accountable,” she stated.

While the exact amount of money allegedly embezzled remains under investigation, preliminary reports suggest it could run into millions of shillings.

Authorities are continuing their investigations, with the possibility of further arrests as more details emerge.

Bamwine Fred commended the collaboration between the ACU and law enforcement agencies in exposing corruption.

“Public resources must be used for the benefit of the people. This serves as a wake-up call to all public officials to serve with integrity,” he remarked.

Focus on Improving Service Delivery

Following the arrests, a high-level meeting was held between district officials and local leaders from the Karamoja sub-region.

The discussions, led by Maj. Asiimwe and Bamwine Fred, focused on improving service delivery in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.

“We cannot talk about development when corruption is eating away at the foundation of our service delivery systems,” Bamwine said. “It is our responsibility to protect public resources and ensure they reach the intended beneficiaries.”

Renewed Commitment to Fighting Corruption

Corruption has long been a significant obstacle to Uganda’s development. However, the government has intensified efforts to address the issue through initiatives such as the RDC Secretariat/ACU, the Inspectorate of Government, and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.

These entities have been working closely with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute corruption cases.

The recent arrests are seen as a major milestone in these efforts. “This is a clear demonstration of the government’s resolve to tackle corruption head-on,” Maj. Asiimwe reiterated.

As the suspects prepare to face court, public interest in the case remains high. Many view this as a critical test of the government’s ability to hold public officials accountable.

“The fight against corruption is far from over, but this is a step in the right direction,” said a local resident who attended the meeting.

The government has pledged to continue cracking down on corruption, ensuring public officials adhere to the highest standards of accountability.

As investigations progress, Ugandans remain hopeful that justice will be served and that these actions will deter others from engaging in corrupt practices.