SOROTI – The Inspectorate of Government on Tuesday May 16, 2023 arrested two Soroti district officials over corruption and abuse of office.
The two officials are the acting district engineer, Alex Oriekot, and the District Education Officer, Mr James Oede.
The duo are meant to appear before the Anti-corruption court.
The arrest of the staff followed the impromptu visit by the Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, who was in the district to probe the allegations of corruption and abuse of office by top Soroti district officers.
While ordering for the arrest of Eng. Oriekot, the Deputy IGG noted that engineer Alex, among other accusations, purportedly connived with some of the technical officers to misuse money meant for the identification of an architect to design new administration structures.
She said that the engineer connived with his friend who is a diploma holder in civil engineering who was incompetent to do technical drawings.
Twinomugisha also noted that most Soroti district civil servants are holding offices with impunity with absenteeism topping the chat.
She also expressed her disappointment with the technical staff that have failed to follow the IGG directives and threatened to take tough actions against them.
She noted that the directives from IGG shouldn’t be taken like love letters.
“What’s political when the CAO isn’t paying salaries? What is political if due process is not followed in the procurement and development of construction plans? What is political if people have worked and not paid? People must be paid and for CAO to ask kickbacks is unacceptable.” Deputy IGG said.
She also said that the impunity of grabbing land, demanding kickbacks from pensioners must stop.
Key among the issues why Oriekot was arrested include; lack of information on the procurement file for provision of consultancy services for the Master plan/physical plan of the area and architectural plan, approved master plan/physical of the area where the district headquarters is to be constructed, approved architectural plan, approved bill of quantities and soliciting of a contractor for the construction,
Engineer Oriekot denied some of the allegations adding that poor service delivery in the district is caused by civil servants who are under qualified.
By press time today he was still under police detention while top district leaders were trying to secure his release.
The regional inspector IGG, Rashid Sentongo on his part noted that service delivery in Soroti district is hampered by absenteeism by staff and laxity by supervisors.
He said in some of the sub counties its police officers running the sub counties while adding that most leaders are mismanaging government assets.
Meanwhile, the DEO Soroti James Oede is being detained for diversion of part of Shs18 million meant for the construction of a five stance pit latrine at Olong Primary School in Lale sub-county.
According to data obtained by our reporter the first release of shs11 million was done but the balance was diverted
He admitted that the money was misused.
IGG has since halted the construction of Soroti district headquarters until the report is out while other district staff are being summoned to record statements.
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It’s a common virus in government officers