Kotido, Uganda — The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), working jointly with the Uganda Police Force in Kotido District, has scored another major milestone in the fight against corruption with the arrest of four senior officials of Kotido Municipal Council over the alleged misappropriation of public funds meant for road rehabilitation and maintenance.

The arrests stem from investigations into the alleged abuse of UGX 1 billion allocated for improving road infrastructure within Kotido Municipality during the Financial Year 2024/2025. The swift action underscores SH-ACU’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding public resources and ensuring accountability at all levels of government.
Those arrested are:
- Okaja Emmanuel, Town Clerk
- Okidi Gasper, Senior Civil Engineer
- Akello Deo Nyanga, Senior Internal Auditor
- Lokure John Bosco, Assistant Inventory Officer

According to investigators, the officials are alleged to have conspired to steal construction materials valued at over UGX 200 million, which were intended for use on various municipal roads. The materials in question reportedly include 1,735.7 trips of gravel, 250 bags of cement, 25 trips of hardcore, and 10 trips of sand.

Further findings indicate that the Town Clerk and the Senior Civil Engineer allegedly neglected their statutory duties by failing to properly supervise, monitor, and enforce compliance with approved standards during road works. The affected projects include key community roads such as Miresiae–Napawu Road, Morungor–Kotyanga Road, Nangayum–Kawlapei Road, Chairman’s Road, Business Road, and Romrom–Nakutakuwam Road—infrastructure vital to local trade, mobility, and service delivery.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned before court to answer charges related to the alleged offenses.

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A Strong Signal Against Corruption
This operation is yet another demonstration of the effectiveness and resolve of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in rooting out graft and restoring integrity in public service. By acting decisively and in close coordination with law enforcement, SH-ACU continues to send a clear message that corruption—especially the theft of funds meant to improve citizens’ livelihoods—will not be tolerated.
The Unit’s work not only protects taxpayer money but also helps ensure that development funds translate into tangible services for communities, particularly in regions where infrastructure is critical to socio-economic progress.
As investigations proceed, SH-ACU reaffirms its commitment to professionalism, transparency, and accountability, and calls on public officers across the country to uphold the highest ethical standards in the execution of their duties.
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