Two businessmen Joel Okwir, 48, and Lawrence Okello, 46 in the dock appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One Jane Tibagonzeka last year in July 2023. Photos by Sharon Akello
By Sharon Akello
Lira
Twenty-two (22) civil servants and private individuals in Lira City have been arrested and charged by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, over the fraudulent sale and procurement of government land.
Among those arraigned before the State House Anti-corruption court over irregular titling and sale of part of the Mayor’s Garden include; former Deputy City Clerk, Patrick Ogweng, former Lira City Physical Planner, Geoffrey Omara, former secretary Lira District Land Board, Okello Francis Olwa, and Patrick Olet, a businessman in Lira City.
Those arrested for the fraudulent sale of plot 41 Church Road in Ireda Estate include; Fabious Otike the head of the Lira District Natural Resources Department and Joseph Ocen Alwong the Senior Land Management Officer.
Others are Francis Ateng, the former Principal Assistant Secretary in-charge of Lira Zonal Office Ministry of Land together with Justus Kabaizi, former chairperson Area land committee and Bazil Opio Eramo among others.
Addressing journalists at Lira Hotel in Lira City on Friday, Israel Ochwo, the Deputy Head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, said their operation in Lira City was prompted by the arrest of a District official in the middle of the night, with vital land documents.
Statistics from the Anti-Corruption unit indicate that since the operation started in December 2018, up to 543 people have been charged in the courts of law across the country. Out of these, 292 are civil servants, and 251 are private individuals.
Ochwo explained that there is a perception that corruption is only in the public sector, which is wrong.
“Corruption in the public sector is facilitated by private people. Because even when you give a bribe, it is one side demanding and one side giving,” he explained.
He added that the unit also doesn’t shy from dealing with people in the security services as 42 of them have already been arraigned and charged before courts of law.
Besides the charges, Ochwo revealed that 126 cases are still pending in courts of law, 96 have already been convicted and 51 recoveries have been made.
Ochwo revealed that since they started their countrywide operation in December 2018, only the ordinary citizens in the Lango sub-region have openly denounced corruption.
“We have been able to do this through partnerships with existing government structures and the public,” he said.
Ochwo argues that the local government is where the government makes critical interventions like the construction of schools, health centers, water sources, and roads, and squandering, money for such infrastructure means failing government efforts and the social economic transformation.
Sowedi Muhammad the Deputy Superintendent of Police, an investigator attached to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, said they always carry out thorough investigations in all cases before a suspect is produced in court.
“For the cases of Lira you realize most of them are now in court and as officers of the law we will still investigate further and find out if there are errors we will correct,” Sowedi said.
Petition to Museveni
Recently, Lango National Resistance Movement (NRM) cadres petitioned President Museveni to intervene over the fraudulent sale and grabbing of public land in Lira City, by some civil servants and businessmen.
In a letter dated January 2, 2024, and titled, “Petition against grabbing of public land within the then Lira Municipal Council, now Lira City,” the leaders asked the President to aid in the investigation to ensure that the suspects are arrested and prosecuted for grabbing public land.
“We the NRM Cadres would like to bring to your attention the problem of fraudulent land dealings and transactions that have been going on under the previous management of Lira District Land Board, Lira District Local Government’s leadership,” the letter reads in part.
Jonal Okot, the general secretary of NRM youth league for Lira District, also the lead petitioner said, such acts are hindering any planned development or expansion that would benefit the people of Lango.
