The Acting Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Katakwi district found herself in hot water after failing to produce an accused person in court. Magistrate Asiimwe didn’t mince words, instructing Alupo to ensure the appearance of one Ariko without fail, lest she face the wrath of a hefty fine and a stint behind bars. But alas, on the fateful evening of Monday, March 11, 2024, Ariko was nowhere to be found, and Alupo was left holding the bag—or, more accurately, the bill.
In a move that would make even the most hardened criminal sweat, Alupo coughed up a mouth watering 100 million shillings before being released from the clutches of justice. Ariko, an engineer with a knack for legal trouble, stands accused of embezzlement, forgery, and the uttering of false documents.
It turns out that Alupo had stood as a surety for Ariko back in May 2019, pledging to ensure his timely appearances in court. She even signed a bond form, promising to pony up the cash if Ariko decided to play hide and seek.
Unfortunately for Alupo, Ariko seemed to have other plans. According to court records, he’s been a no show since last year, leaving Alupo in the unenviable position of trying to wrangle him back to court like a wayward child. And when it became clear that her efforts were in vain, the court wasted no time in throwing the book at her—figuratively speaking, of course.
But let’s not forget the rules of engagement here. The High Court Anti-Corruption Division Case Management Rules, 2021, leave no room for ambiguity: if you’re going to stand as a surety, you better damn well have the means to ensure your ward’s compliance. And if you don’t, well, you might just find yourself on the wrong end of a hefty fine and some unwanted time behind bars.
As for Ariko, he’s got more legal troubles than he knows what to do with. From allegations of embezzlement to forgery and everything in between, his laundry list of charges reads like a primer on white collar crime. And yet, despite his absence from the courtroom, his presence looms large over the proceedings, casting a shadow of doubt and uncertainty over the entire affair.
So what’s the moral of this cautionary tale? Perhaps it’s that crime doesn’t pay—or at least, not without a hefty fine to show for it. Or maybe it’s that in the game of legal cat and mouse, sometimes the mouse gets away scot free, leaving the cat to foot the bill.
