Outrage as Terego LC5 Spends District Million on Private Trip to Sweden

The Terego district is in a bit of a bee hive. The LC5 chairperson, Wilfred Saka, is facing serious accusations of using local government funds for what some have called a “honeymoon” trip to Sweden with Terego Woman Member of Parliament, Rose Obiga.

Reports are flying faster than the latest gossip at a Ugandan wedding, indicating that Saka may have dipped into the district’s coffers for a casual trip to the Nordic country. This “resource mobilization meeting” in Stockholm was supposedly about development, but with Saka and Obiga in attendance, many residents are left wondering if this was more about networking or just a chance to escape the realities of Terego for a few days.

Local sources revealed that top West Nile civil and political leaders were invited to this high flying affair by the sons and daughters of the region working in Sweden. Each participant was meant to pay their own way. That didn’t stop Saka from allegedly pulling out a cool shillings 10 million from the district account to cover his travel expenses.

Eric Alema, a businessman from Arua city and a disgruntled resident of Bileafe sub-county has raised a ruckus, petitioning the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) to investigate this financial mishap. Alema claims he has enough intel to make even a seasoned gossip feel inadequate. He insists that Saka should not have pocketed any money from the district, especially since the air ticket was covered by an international NGO, while a local one chipped in for the per diem. It seems Saka’s pockets were a bit too deep for this particular trip.

“Why should the chairperson also come and pick money from the district?” Alema exclaimed, almost as if he were asking why someone would add sugar to posho—completely unnecessary! He also pointed out that the trip wasn’t cleared by the foreign affairs ministry and wasn’t part of the approved budget for the year. His argument boils down to a simple question: Shouldn’t every coin be accounted for, especially when it comes to public funds?

Despite the backlash, Saka has taken a more relaxed stance, saying the value of the items donated to the district far exceeds the contested shillings 10 million. In the world of politics, that’s like saying, “Don’t worry about the Matooke; the banana leaves are organic!” Politically savvy, but hardly comforting to the average Terego citizen wondering where their money went.

Woman MP Obiga, who travelled with the District Chairperson caught in this whirlwind, claims that the accusations are politically motivated—more of a smear campaign than anything else. “It’s shameful to say we went to Sweden for a honeymoon,” she quipped, clearly perturbed. “Today they say I’m married to Andua Drani, who is my relative, tomorrow they’ll claim I’m wed to the chairman of Uriam. How many men am I married to, really?!” It sounds like the gossip mill is running at full speed, and Obiga is just trying to keep up.

Alema’s quest against corruption has not been without its critics. His call for accountability has drawn the ire of Saka’s supporters, who have taken to social media to defend their LC5 chairperson, branding Alema’s actions as a misguided witch hunt. But Alema, undeterred, insists that he is acting not just for himself but for the good of Terego. “Corruption here will affect the entire Terego,” he emphasized. “Fighting for accountability doesn’t mean we need a rally; it means addressing corruption wherever we see it.”