The Anti Corruption Court has remanded 6 staff from the Office of the Prime Minister on charges related to 11 billion shillings meant for different programs under the Peace Initiative in Karamoja region.
The groups include Deogratious Masigazi Under Secretary /head of Department, Pacification and Development Program, Joshua Abaho Senior Assistant Secretary , Barbara Asasira Principal Assistant Secretary, Emmy Tonny Ameny Assistant Commissioner Programs , Peter Amodoi, the Programs Officer , Samuel Ofungi , the Assistant Secretary.
They are charged alongside Geoffrey Sseremba who has not appeared in Court.
They appeared before Court Principal Magistrate Grade One Abert Asiimwe and charged with 12 counts of causing financial loss, abuse of office and emblezzlement.
It is alleged that between February and June 2022 , while performing their duties as Accounting Officer and Head Department Pacification and Development Program respectively Sseremba and Masigazi approved a total cash payment of 4,497,132,000 billion shillings to various staff within the OPM without any proper work plan for genuine activity to be carried out .
The court has also heard that one of the accused persons Joshua Abaho, while employed as a Senior Assistant Secretary stole 2, 473, 154,000 billion shillings that was advanced to him for coordinating various peace building initiatives in Karamoja region to which he had access by virtue of his office in the in the month of June 2022.
According to the Prosecution, Abaho had been given a total cash payment of 2,493,154,000 billion shillings but he never conducted the activities, as well failed to account for 2,473,154,000 shillings which was also an arbitrary act to his employer the government of Uganda.
On her part Barbara Asasira, the State alleges that between April and June 2022 while employed as Principal Assistant Secretary, received a total cash payment of 538, 526,000 and failed to account for 522,926,000 million shillings.
Emmy Tonny Ameny is accused of stealing 225,550,000 which he also accessed by virtue of his office as an Assistant Commissioner Programmes.
On his part, Peter Amodoi is accused of stealing 100, 338, 000 between March and June 2022 , and as well failing to account for 217, 507, 158 million shillings which was part of a total payment of 308,275,000 million shillings for February and June 2022.
The Prosecution alleges that Samuel Ofungi as Senior Assistant Secretary received a total cash payment of 69, 298,000 million shillings and just like his colleagues, he didn’t conduct any activity and ended up failing to account for the said monies they allege that he stole.
They have denied the charges and remanded until Friday 16 June,2023 for bail application.
Report by: Betty Zziwa
