ABIM – Police in Abim district in Karamoja region have arrested Mr. David Menya, the Lotuke sub-county accountant for allegedly embezzling UGX21million.
Mr. Menya was arrested on Monday 7 of October evening after a two weeks police hunt.
Mr. Menya’s arrest was after the sub-chief of Lotuke Mr. Aldos Ochero wrote a letter to the office of the chief administrative officer Abim Mr.Emmanule Ofono and copied to Mr.Smaule Hashaka Mpimbaza over the loss of shs21million under the hands of Mr. David Menya.
In the letter written by the sub-county chief to RDC and the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Aldos stated Mr. David Menya failed to remit all the revenue collected money to the bank.
The letter reads “This is to bring to your attention that the Senior Accounts Assistant of Lotuke sub-county David Menya Omara has failed to remit o the bank the above reference sum of money. This money was collected from Bartanga livestock market, Orwamuge market from July 2019 to 23rd of September 2019 and this money is not in cash box in the sub-county as well. Several attempts have been made by me to remind the senior accounts Assistant to deposit the above sum of money to the bank but in vain.”
“This gross misconduct of the Senior Accounts Assistant is contrary to section 69 (3) (d) of the local government act cap 243 that mandates local government to collect and account for the local revenue generated.”
“The purpose of this letter is to ask for your support such that adequate control is exercised to improve management of public finances in Lotuke Sub County,” added the letter, arguing that “Your quick response will be highly appreciated.”
Mr. Aldos Ochero the sub-county chief in a telephone interview with this newspaper on Sunday confirmed authoring the letter saying the theft of money generated out revenue collection in Lotuke Sub County has affected the sub-county activities geared to support the community.
“The colleague gets money from the market revenue and he doesn’t bank it he just spends for his own personal activities,” he said.
Mr. Robert Katuramu, the district police commander Abim confirmed the arrest of the officer saying he will be produced before the courts to answer charges of corruption and abuse of office.
“We have been looking for him but finally we got him we are almost done with our investigations and the file will be sent to the state prosecutor, he said.
Mr. Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka the resident district commissioner Abim said David Menya who’s on the run was one of the suspects one time who was arrested and got a police bond for alleged embezzlement.
According to Mr. Hashaka the PS of the ministry of local government ordered CAO Mr. Simon Peter Akileng who was then the CAO for Abim to interdict Mr. Menya but Mr. Akileng instead moved Mr. Menya from the district to Lotuke Sub County where he has disappeared with the case.
