Nakapiripirit District – The RDC of Nakapiripirit District, George Owanyi, who also serves as the Karamoja region RDCs Chief Whip, has accused the district engineer, Oketayot, of mismanaging a UGX one billion grant from the Central Government, as well as another grant from the Uganda Road Fund, which was meant for the construction and improvement of the district’s feeder roads.
He has called for a fresh investigation, which should be conducted in the presence of Brig. Isoke himself, or else he will lead a delegation to State House headquarters to expose how the district engineer is mismanaging funds while being treated like an “angel” by some unnamed individuals who are investigating him.
The RDC added that, during the President’s recent wealth creation tour of Karamoja, the President received intelligence suggesting that, despite Nakapiripirit district receiving UGX one billion the previous year and another UGX 500 million in the current financial year, it still has the worst road infrastructure in the entire Karamoja region. Additionally, for the last two years, no road project has been launched, monitored, or commissioned in the district.
The President was also informed that the District Roads Committee (DRC), responsible for approving the utilization of the grant, had not met since March 2024. The committee is made up of Hon. Moses Aleper, the MP for Chekwii Constituency; Hon. Minister Peter Lokeris (Kadama Constituency); Hon. Minister Esther Anyakun (DWMP); LC V Chair John Nangiro; and Eng. Patrick Oketayot (District Engineer).
It was reported that the committee had sidelined and ignored the then Resident District Commissioner (RDC) John Peter Okurut after he insisted on Bills of Quantities (BOQs) and work plans for the road projects. As a result, he was reportedly undermined by the district’s political and technical staff, leading to his transfer to Kibuku.
“How can one carry out an investigation with impartiality and neutrality against a person who is accommodating, feeding, and entertaining you in his house?” remarked Nandutu Stella Rose, one of the residents of the district.
When contacted by our reporter, RDC Owanyi advised, “The standard procedure for any visitors, particularly when carrying out investigations, is for them to pay a courtesy call to the office of the RDC and the District Police Commander before commencing any investigation.” However, he expressed dismay at hearing rumors that some people are conducting investigations in the district without visiting his office.
Regarding accountability for the UGX one billion allocated for the road and bridge network in the district, RDC Owanyi confirmed that the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Mr. Lawrence Wadada, has repeatedly ignored minuted resolutions from the District Security Committee (DSC) to launch infrastructure projects in the district or provide accountability for the road grant. Owanyi further confirmed that, during the five months he has been in Nakapiripirit, no road project has been monitored or supervised by the joint political and technical leadership.
The CAO has reportedly snubbed invitations to the District Security Committee for the last two months, fearing that he would be held accountable by the committee. “We have now reached our boiling point, and the impunity by the Chief Administrative Officer and his technical team must come to an end. We are in the election period, and it can no longer be business as usual as the implementation of the NRM manifesto faces a stillbirth,” remarked RDC Owanyi.
When contacted by our reporter this morning, RDC Owanyi said he will write to both the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Dr. Patricia Acan Okiria, and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit head, Brig. Isoke, to take a keen interest in the district’s situation and the ongoing mismanagement. However, Lawrence Wadada, the CAO of Nakapiripirit, did not answer repeated phone calls by press time.
Thank you bwana R.D.C for the bold step taken, Nakapiripirit has been eaten up by a few gourns which if given platform we shall expose them.
Congrats once again.
Kumbe Nakapiripirit do receive a lot of road fund like that, and yet roads to most schools are in devastating state!!!!!