LIRA– Security in Lira district has blocked a demonstration by a section of youths against what they termed as increased corruption by the civil servants in Lira municipality.
The youths drawn from different political parties including UPC, FDC and NRM, were intercepted along Soroti road around Post Office by the anti-riot police personnel and UPDF soldiers being commanded by Lira District Police Commander Joel Tubanone.
The youths were found demonstrating while carrying ply cards bearing various anti-corruption messages and calling President Yoweri Museveni to intervene and save theft of public funds by the civil servants.
DPC Tubanone says the demonstration was not sanctioned by the police, adding that they had advised the protesters to write to the Inspector General of Police seeking for permission unfortunately they did not.
He says they have tentatively preferred charge of illegal procession against the five ringleaders of the demonstration.
Those arrested for masterminding the demonstration include, Patrick Okwir, an NRM chairperson for Bar Sub County in Lira district, Solomon Okello, Jonal Okot, Titus Ogwal, and Mike Ogwal, a local councilor at the Municipal council.
The group cited the recent Shs20m which was sent to the account of an individual identified as Jimmy Otim, an estate officer at Uganda Technical College in Lira.
The money that was meant to finance survey of all the roads within Lira municipality was sent to the bank account of Otim at Stanbic bank, and to date it has not been recovered by the authority.
Police at Lira Central Station has since opened a General Enquiry File number 28/2018 to investigate the compliant.
