BY OUR REPORTER
The Kasese District Principal Human Resource Officer, Mr. Samson Bihanikire and the former Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Amis Masereka Asuman have been arrested on charges related to abuse of office and causing financial loss to government.
They were arrested on Monday afternoon by the State House Anti- Corruption Unit together with police, arraigned before the Anti Corruption Court, Kololo in Kampala and subsequently remanded and are expected to appear before the same court on Tuesday for their bail application hearing.
The duo is accused of abuse of their offices by irregularly reinstating six teachers who resigned from the teaching service and joined politics for 10 years.
The teachers were reinstated back into service, deployed in different schools and have been earning salary thus a cause of government financial loss over Shillings 20 million.
The Kasese District Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Elias Byamungu confirmed the development and said they were arrested after getting the information that the teachers who resigned and joined politics are still getting salaries, an act he said is against the law.
Last Year in May, four Kasese District local government officials were arrested by the same Unit together with police for alleged abuse of office and mishandling of government assets.
The suspects included Ruhamya Robert Bithekere, the former treasurer for Mubuku town council and his former treasurer, Hood Yusuf Ndungo who were accused of mismanaging over Shillings 50 million disbursed by the government like a startup fund for Mubuku Town Council in 2019.
The others were the Chief Finance Officer, Magrete Muhindo and Robert Lalobo, the senior assistant mechanical engineering officer.
In 26th January, while in Kakumiro at the celebrations to mark the 37th NRM/NRA Victory anniversary, President Yoweri Museveni warned District Internal Security and Police’s CID to help stump out corruption or face his wrath. He also castigated the District Service Commissions for “selling Local Government jobs.”
The president urged Ugandans to endeavour to get evidence implicating the Service Commisisons so that he expunge and roast them.
“I have heard the Bazukulu crying about the District Service Commissions selling Local Government jobs. I have heard of girls being exploited sexually as bribes for jobs. Get evidence, please, devoted members of the Public and we expunge and roast those pigs” he said.
He stressed that,” Corruption will be stamped out. I congratulate some Government agencies; I have seen people that had stolen PDM and emyooga money, being arrested or being forced to refund the money. That is good. However, it is not enough. The DISOs and the CIDs, should also be on notice.
How does such corruption go on in your AOR (Area of Responsibility) and you do not know or, if you know, you do not report?”