Gulu city officials arrested over forgery

Gulu, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT | Members of Parliament on the Public Accounts Committee-PAC Local Government have handed four officials of Gulu City Council to the police over allegations of forgery.

The officials are George Kidega, the Senior Finance Officer, Christo Balmoi, the Principal City Engineer, Richard Kidega, the Human Resource Officer, and Edward Kiwanuka, the former Gulu City Town Clerk who was transferred to Lira city.

On Wednesday, the officials appeared before the committee to answer audit queries in the financial reports that were presented. The MPs were concerned that the financial reports were forged leading to a financial loss of 131 Million Shillings.

The Vice-Chairperson of the Committee Emmanuel Ongiertho noted that there were gross irregularities in the payment of staff, pensions and gratuities, and procurement. He noted that money was paid into the accounts of some of the technical staff under unclear circumstances.

According to Ongiertho, the City Council has been given three months to refund 131 Million Shillings.

The Gulu City Mayor Alfred Okwonga told the MPs that the mess in the audit queries arose from poor record-keeping, inadequate human resources, and lack of integrity of the employees.

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