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The suspects in custody have been identified as Andiandu Joakim, the district Environment Officer, and Owen Onzima, a Community Facilitator in the same district.
According to police, the duo connived to steal funds meant for the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP). This is being funded under the Office of Prime Minister to support livelihood including tree planting.
It’s alleged that on December 27th, 2023, a savings group of Ombamba village in Ajia Sub-county, Arua district, approached a one Owen Onzima, the community facilitator and inquired if they could withdraw their project money to the tune of 41 million shillings.
This was given to them under DRDIP program for planting trees. It is further said that Owen Onzima led them to Joakim Andiandu, the supervisor, and the District Environment Officer. He advised the group members to inform the 3 signatories of the group to go and withdraw the money from Post bank in Arua city.
“After withdrawing the 41 million shillings, Owen Onzima advised them to take only 21 million. He further told them to hand over the 20 million to him to be given to the supervisor which they did,” said the police
The signatories went to meet the group members with only 21 million shillings. They informed them that the remainder of the money was handed over to one Owen Onzima.
It would apparently be handed over to the supervisor, Andiandu Joakim, the district Environment Officer. This immediately made them irritated and reported the matter to Chairman LC 5 Arua district. The LC5 later advised them to report the matter to Ajia Police Post for legal action.
Speaking to this website, Josephine Angucia, the regional police spokesperson, stated that police responded quickly. They opened a case of theft of money and recorded statements from both the complainants and witnesses.
They summoned both district officials and seized the 20 million shillings exhibit before recording their statements and detaining them. The suspects also were transferred from Ajia police post to Arua district police headquarters pending inquiries.
Check Also;
- Two Former Arua Hospital Staff Arrested over Embezzling Shs 28m
- District Officials Arrested Over Embezzlement Of Gov’t Funds
- How 3200 Ghost Saccos Shared Ugx 30b PDM Funds
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
