AMURU, Uganda — Police in Amuru District have arrested two National Resistance Movement (NRM) officials over allegations of mismanaging party funds meant to facilitate grassroots mobilisation ahead of the Women Council and Local Council I (LC I) elections.
The suspects, Geoffrey Ojera, the NRM Administrative Secretary for Amuru District, and Martin Oyet, the district Secretary for Finance, were arrested on Wednesday, July 22, and are being investigated for allegedly diverting funds released by the party for mobilisation activities.
The arrests followed a complaint filed by George Willy Oketayot Orindi, the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) Coordinator for Amuru District, after several party leaders reported receiving less money than the amounts allocated to their respective sub-counties.
According to Orindi, Pabbo Sub-county, which had been allocated Shs9.7 million, received only Shs8.1 million.
He further alleged that Lamogi Sub-county was short by Shs1.4 million, Pogo by Shs540,000, Opara by Shs650,000, and Elegu Town Council by Shs400,000, bringing the total unexplained shortfall to Shs3.05 million.
Orindi also claimed that LC I flag bearers from Amuru’s 203 villages, each entitled to Shs20,000 for mobilisation, were instead paid Shs10,000, leaving more than Shs2 million unaccounted for.
“Some sub-counties that collected their money early received the full allocations, but those that picked theirs later found that part of the money was missing without any explanation,” Orindi said.
He said the complaints prompted him to report the matter to Amuru Central Police Station, leading to the arrest of the two officials. During the operation, police reportedly recovered Shs3 million from the suspects.
The Aswa West Regional Police Spokesperson, David Ongom Mudong, confirmed the arrests and said investigations are ongoing.
According to preliminary police findings, the NRM released Shs60 million to facilitate grassroots mobilisation activities in Amuru District, but investigators believe some of the money never reached the intended beneficiaries.
Police suspect that Shs2.9 million was diverted from Shs6.3 million earmarked for allowances and transport refunds for Women Council leaders.
The arrests come just two days after NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong directed police in the Acholi Sub-region to arrest party officials found to have misused funds intended for village barazas and the facilitation of Women Council and LC I flag bearers.
While meeting NRM leaders and security officials in Acholi on July 19, Todwong warned that the ruling party would not tolerate the misappropriation of mobilisation funds and insisted that all money released by the party must reach its intended beneficiaries.
His directive followed a series of complaints from party leaders in districts including Gulu, Lamwo, and Apac, where officials were accused of mismanaging and failing to account for funds released for previous party activities, including preparations for the 2026 General Elections.
Police say investigations are continuing to establish the full extent of the alleged financial mismanagement and whether additional individuals were involved.
