The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has announced the arrest of two Obongi District officials and a contractor on July 31, 2024. The arrests are linked to allegations of misappropriating UGX 74 million from the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP).
The arrested individuals include Mr. Ivan Opio Onapa, the District Engineer; Mr. Geoffrey Tako, the Desk Officer for DRDIP; and Mr. Fisher Martin, a contractor. These actions were carried out under the directive of Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria, the Deputy Inspector General of Government.
The arrests followed numerous complaints from local community members and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC). Investigations revealed that the officials and the contractor allegedly colluded to divert project funds. They modified the approved construction plans for doctors’ houses in health centers, deviating from the standards set by the Ministry of Health. The changes included substituting solid concrete walls with brick walls, replacing steel roofing with timber roofing, and neglecting essential testing and technical assessments.
The investigation found that the total contract amount for building a doctor’s house at Itula Health Centre III was UGX 250 million. However, the contractor issued two payment certificates totaling UGX 91,230,000. The district officials inflated the payment amount to UGX 113,879,000, resulting in a financial discrepancy of UGX 22,649,000.
Further inquiry uncovered that Mr. Tako had redirected UGX 52,000,000 allocated for the Yenga HH Cooked Stove and Briquettes sub-project to an unapproved project without following proper procedures.
These actions have led to a total financial loss of UGX 74 million, undermining the project’s goal of enhancing community livelihoods and improving service delivery. The implicated individuals are scheduled to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court on August 1, 2024.
The DRDIP aims to address the developmental needs of districts hosting refugees across the country. The project focuses on meeting the social, economic, and environmental needs in fifteen districts, including Arua, Terego, Madi-Okollo, Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo, Obongi, Adjumani, Lamwo, Kiryandongo, Kikuube, Hoima, Isingiro, Kamwenge, and Kyegegwa.
