Andrew Omunu, the Kwania District Education Officer (DEO) is on interdiction for alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of funds. He is accused of misappropriating Shs 399 million meant for the procurement of deliverables and supplies to Aduku seed secondary school.
This is part of the Shs 2.8 Billion disbursed by the government with support from the World Bank in 2018 for the procurements. Omunu’s trouble started on Wednesday last week when the State Minister for Sports and Education, Denis Hamson Obua went to commission Aduku seed secondary school and found only 14 instead of 28 computers meant for the IT Lab.
The money was reportedly diverted towards the purchase of a vehicle, opening an access road contrary to the Finance and Accounting Regulations of 2007. Obua consequently ordered Omunu’s arrest before being released on bond. Now, the Kwania Chief Administrative Officer, Francis Opolot has interdicted Omunu to pave way for a thorough investigation into the matter.
“In accordance with Section F-S Paragraph 14 of the Public Service Standing Orders of Uganda, you are hereby Interdicted from exercising powers and functions of your office as a public officer with effect from the above date for a period of six months to pave the way into the gross misappropriation of public fund,” reads the March 23rd 2022 letter.
He directs the DEO to cooperate with the police to facilitate investigations into the matter. “Being the chairperson contracts committee, a vote controller of the department and a project manager of Aduku seed secondary school, which is the subject to the investigation, you are hereby required to cooperate with the police in furnishing them with all necessary information,” he said.
He also directed Omunu to handover office and all government properties in line with the Public Service Standing Orders. “During this period of your interdiction, you will receive half pay off your monthly salary,” the letter adds. He also restricted the DEO from leaving Uganda without permission from the responsible offices.
