The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Bukwo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The four Bukwo district officials accused of creating ghost projects under the NUSAF 3 programme that cost the government Shillings 700 million are finally in police custody.
They are Catherine Chemutai, the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Jonah Chewer, the NUSAF 3 desk officer, Tom Toskin, the commercial officer and Andrew Bukose, the Chief Finance Officer. Police rounded up the officials on Wednesday following their failure to respond to summons to record their statements.
Samson Lubega, the Bukwo District Police Commander says that the arrest of the suspects stemmed from complaints from the general public about the non-existent projects under NUSAF 3, which were later confirmed by the Resident District Commissioner and LC V chairperson.
“We have them in our custody and we are finalizing with our investigations and take them to court and answer charges of corruption and embezzlement,” he said. The arrest of the suspects comes two weeks after the Bukwo Resident District Commissioner, Samuel Hashaka Mpimbaza and LC V chairperson, Julius Moses Chelimo unearthed 30 ghost projects used to syphon Shillings 700m.
Hashaka ordered the police to investigate and arrest the officials responsible for the creation of ghost projects. Grace Chero, one of the residents of Chesower sub-county has hailed the arrest of the officials, saying that they have been mismanaging public funds.
“Officials in Bukwo have been used to eating money left and right without being arrested. We thank the RDC, LCV and police who have taken a bold decision to arrest these officials who thought they are untouchable,” she said.
Joseph Cheptegei, another resident wants the government to confiscate the property of the suspects once found guilty. “Civil servants are building mansions in Bukwo district but you don’t know where they get money from,” he said.
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