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The accused include Francis Odongo, an operative working with the External Security Organisation (ESO), James Opolot, a crime intelligence officer and Felix Ezangu, the border internal security officer all attached to Vurra customs border point.
Preliminary reports indicate that the accused aided the entry of a yet-to-be-identified Congolese gold dealer. This was to evade the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) protocol at the border post on March 24.
The accused reportedly intercepted the businessman before crossing the border. They then solicited a bribe of $10,000. They even went ahead and provided escort security to Arua city for the smuggler to sell his pieces of gold.
A security official who preferred anonymity told a URN reporter that the accused persons shared the bribe they got from the gold dealer on March 25.
This was from Devine Touch hotel, a few meters from the Vurra customs border post. Arua resident district commissioner Godfrey Okiswa says that the matter came to light when the accused officials disagreed on how to share their loot.
“We only came to learn about this at the time when there was a scuffle and the sharing of the money that they could have been compromised with,” said Okiswa.
Meanwhile, Vurra sub-county chairperson Joel Pariyo explains that cases of extortion by security operatives are rampant at the border.
He also appealed to the district security committee to intervene. The accused persons declined to speak to the media.
Gold smuggling is really a big offense and lead to serious arrest.
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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)
