Head teacher arrested over stealing UPE funds

NAKASEKE.

Police have arrested a primary school head teacher in Nakaseke District who is suspected to have defrauded his former school of Shs1.6 million.

According to the Nakaseke deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Africano Aharikundira, the suspect allegedly withdrew the money from Biduku Church of Uganda Primary School account yet he ceased being head teacher on September 1.

The suspect has since been transferred to Singo Army Primary School.

“We contacted the bank after getting information that the school account had run dry yet the new head teacher had not made any withdrawal. It was discovered that the suspect withdrew Shs1.6m on September 24, yet a statement obtained from the bank indicates that he ceased to be the principal signatory to the school account on September 10, 2016 after his transfer to another school. This is unfortunate,” Mr Aharikundira told the Daily Monitor on Tuesday.

“He should first refund this money to the school to enable his successor purchase scholastic materials as the law takes its course. It is good that he has already acknowledged that he withdrew the UPE funds from the school account,” Mr Aharikundira said.

Nakaseke District police commander Justus Asiimwe confirmed the arrest of the head teacher.
Nakaseke District Education Officer, Mr Steven Batanude declined to comment on the matter, saying it had been left to police to investigate.

In his statement at police, the suspect claimed that he did not know that the education officials had transferred him to another school since he did not receive an official explanation why he was being transferred from Biduku Primary school.

“I never received an official transfer letter which is the reason why I went to the bank and withdrew the money,” the suspect told detectives at Kiwoko Police Station.

Mr Asiimwe said the suspect will be produced in court after investigations are completed.