Amuru MPs want district bosses fired

Amuru Woman Member of Parliament Lucy Akello (2nd L) makes a point at a press briefing at Northern Uganda Media Club in Gulu Town last Monday. PHOTO BY Julius Ocungi

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Interdiction. Members of Parliament from Amuru District want two district officials interdicted over allegation of iron sheets theft.

Amuru. Members of Parliament from Amuru District have tasked the Inspectorate of Government to interdict Amuru District police commander Abbey Ngako and the LC5 Chairperson, Mr Anthony Omach, over alleged theft of iron sheets meant for former internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Kilak County Member of Parliament Gilbert Olanya and Ms Lucy Akello, the district Woman Member of Parliament , demanded that the duo relinquish their offices immediately to pave way for investigations.
The MPs were addressing journalists at the Northern Uganda Media Club on Monday.
The legislators also suggested that investigations into the iron sheets scandal should be withdrawn from regional police headquarters in Gulu District, since one of the accused is a police officer and the case be handed over to the the ombudsman to avoid conflict of interest.
At least 30 pieces of iron sheets and 35 hoes were intercepted loaded on a Busia-bound Gateway Bus at Gulu Bus Park Police station in Gulu Town.
Mr Ngako has since recorded a statement at police claiming it was Mr Omach who gave him the iron sheets. Mr Omach has since denied the allegations, arguing the DPC acted on his own.
Mr Olanya said the relief was meant to benefit vulnerable residents who bore the brunt of the rebellion by the Lords’ Resistance Army rebels.
“We want the two officials interdicted so that investigations are properly carried ,” Mr Olanya said.
The MP wondered who gave the LC5 Chairperson the authority to distribute the iron sheets to community schools yet the guidelines stipulated that they should be given to individual residents.
He added that he has also petitioned the Amuru chief administrative officer to explain the circumstances under which 10,000 hoes that were sent through the Office of the Prime Minister were distributed.
“We are surprised that the DPC who is not a vulnerable person in the district got the hoes. This is raising a lot of questions on transparency in the distribution,” he said. “As an MP, I have a role to monitor government programmes in the district and I demand to know the criteria used in the distribution,” Mr Olanya said.
Aswa regional police commander Wilson Kwanya on Monday said since police were already completing investigations into the matter, it would not be necessary to interdict the DPC.
“Police have already recorded statements from Mr Omach. I am yet to get the details of the reports from the regional CIID officer and I will let the public know,” said Mr Kwanya.

Background
The iron sheets were part of 210 pieces police had kept for safe custody at Amuru Police Station following irregularities in their distribution to the former internally displaced persons in the district in 2011.