Police in Oyam district have released twelve officials on police bond. These officials were arrested last week as part of an investigation into the disappearance of tablet computers used during the National Population and Housing Census.
After the Census, authorities discovered that 40 tablet computers were missing. Under pressure, they managed to recover some of these devices, but seven tablets are still missing. Additionally, 104 chargers for these devices are also unaccounted for.
To address the situation, police arrested 11 sub-county supervisors and one district information and technology officer. Among the arrested are Clement Otim from Aber sub-county, Topista Angwec, the parish chief of Loro Town Council, Joel Atine from Iceme sub-county, Tobias Ogwal from Myene sub-county, Ambrose Ocen, the Community Development Officer (CDO) of Aleka sub-county, and Ambrose Owani from Minakulu sub-county.
Others arrested include Jolly Joe Kica from Oyam Town Council, Denis Ogwang, a driver in the planning department, and IT officer Ronald Dilla, who is the son of the Oyam district LC5 chairman.
Oyam Resident District Commissioner (RDC) William Komakech confirmed that these suspects have been released on police bond while investigations continue. Edison Muhangi, the Oyam district police commander, had earlier stated that the suspects faced allegations of neglect of duty, abuse of office, and theft of government property. These cases are recorded under SD Ref 26/05/06/2024.
John Mark Agong, the Oyam district census officer and district planner, noted that a major challenge was that many supervisors did not sign census forms when returning the gadgets. This oversight has complicated the investigation process.
Benson Walter Dilla Oyuku, the Oyam LC5 chairperson, urged civil servants to perform their duties with transparency and ensure that government property is returned. He suggested that some individuals might have kept the gadgets in protest due to delayed payments for their work.
“The government should pay the enumerators for the work they have done as this has brought a lot of tension and I believe that some have held back the gadgets in protest over non-payment,” Dilla stated.
The government plans to use the tablet computers in the 2026 general elections, making the recovery of these devices particularly important.
