Civil servants in Obongi district are in a state of panic as the Inspector General of Government (IGG) is scheduled to visit the district on Wednesday. Concerns about rampant corruption allegations among civil servants have heightened the anxiety among public officials.
Over 200 cases of corruption were reported to the police, but no action has been taken on any of these cases to date, according to Obongi RDC Mr. Samuel Mpimbasa Hasaka. A group of concerned citizens is urging the IGG to conduct a community baraza, gather untold evidence from the public, and immediately arrest the implicated corrupt officials at the district and sub-county levels.
One beneficiary of a fish pond project expressed hope that the IGG’s visit would lead to the removal of corrupt officials. Most reported cases involve the DRDIP, where part of the over 38 billion shillings is alleged to have been embezzled. The district council is demanding accountability for funds collected from district lodges, where the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) allegedly sleeps without paying.
Wanainchi are also calling for the arrest of Gulu University officials and Obongi technical staff for embezzling over 800 million shillings meant for fish ponds, toilets, and waste management facilities. Fear is spreading among civil servants, with some anticipating that the IGG may leave with suspects from the district.
Residents are planning to welcome the IGG with a petition, urging that implicated civil servants spend Christmas in prison on remand. In a related development, some youth in the district want the IGG to hold a baraza with the public to gather facts on corruption allegations.
Mr. James Onono, Gulu University spokesperson, clarified that only one person, Dr. Peimo Adoye, among the two accused, was a university staff member. The rest were technical personnel employed by Dr. Piemo Adoye.
The level of corruption in Obongi district, if not addressed by the IGG and State House Anti-Corruption, may impact NRM campaigns in the 2026 general elections. Accusations of some civil servants having influential connections in Kampala and Entebbe, being considered untouchable, have further strained the situation. Efforts to reach the Obongi district CAO, Andrew Leru, for comments on the allegations were unsuccessful as his known phone number went unanswered.
