Dokolo officials charged with corruption

Kampala. Two top Dokolo District officials were on Friday charged in court over alleged embezzlement of more than Shs15.2m meant for the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan for northern Uganda (PRDP).
Mr George William Omuge, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Mr John Odada, the Chief Finance Officer, were produced before the Anti-Corruption Court on Friday.
They were charged with three corruption offences of causing financial loss, embezzlement and abuse of office.
Under the charge of causing financial loss, the prosecution contends that Mr Odada on December 16, 2016 without a document of requisition or accountability, approved payment of Shs15.2m meant for PRDP to Mr Omuge.
The case is being prosecuted by the Inspector General of Government (IGG).
The IGG contends that the two accused knew that their actions would cause a financial loss to Dokolo local government and indeed it did.
The IGG further contends that the duo in December 2016 also approved and withdrew Shs15.2m from PRDP account in dfcu Bank, Dokolo Branch without any supporting documents and accountabilities, an arbitrary act that was prejudicial to the interest of their employer.
The suspects appeared before Grade One Magistrate Sarah Namusobya for plea taking and denied the charges.

Bailed
They were later released on a bail of Shs6m each. They will reappear in court on March 1 as investigations continue.
The duo was arrested by the officers attached to the IGG last Thursday.
Late last year, President Museveni re-energised the fight against corruption when he created a new anti-corruption unit, under State House, headed by Lt Col Edith Nakalema to compliment the IGG and Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in hunting perpetrators who misuse government resources.