Three officials from Kibuku’s local government have been sent to Budaka prison on charges of causing a government loss of Shs21 million.
The individuals in question are Christopher Wamika, 52, the District Education Officer (DEO), Stephen Otem, 52, the District Inspector of Schools (DIS), and Leticia Nabirye, 42, Senior Inspector of Schools.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit arrested them on Tuesday in response to complaints from teachers who claimed that the funds allocated for 2022’s co-curricular activities had been misappropriated.
The accused were presented before Abubaker Mantama, the Grade 1 magistrate of Kibuku, where they were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony under section 390 of the Penal Code Act Cap 120. They denied the charges and were remanded until April 11, 2024, for further proceedings.
The prosecution alleges that in September 2022, at the Kibuku District headquarters, the accused conspired to commit a felony by falsely accounting for Shs21,700,000.
Mariam Natasha Oduka, the spokesperson for the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, stated that the team began investigations on April 7, 2024, following a complaint by head teachers.
She mentioned that this complaint had been previously reported to them. They contacted various head teachers who admitted to paying the capitation, licensing, and Education Management Information System (EMIS) money to the Senior Inspector of Schools.
She also stated that they obtained vouchers from the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) for requisitions made by the DEO for Music Dance and Drama (MDD) in Kyotera worth Shs21 million. However, the school that participated denied any knowledge of these funds.
In collaboration with the area RDC, Samuel Musiho, they invited teachers and head teachers to provide statements. The teachers confirmed that they were pressured to pay money that was not used as intended.