Arua District Officials Arrested For Stealing Shs20m From OPM

Posted by: Eninu William in Uganda news January 18, 2024

Authorities in Arua city have in their custody two district officials for allegedly stealing 20 million shillings from the office of the prime minister.

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.

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