Four senior officials from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) have been arrested by Col Edith Nakalema,the head of State House Anti-Corruption Unit ‘SHACU’ allegations of procuring substandard relief items.
Col.Nakalema revealed to the press on Tuesday afternoon that suspects were apprehended after Prime Minister Nabbanja complained to SHACU that implicated officials had supplied fake relief items to flood victims in Rwenzori subregion.
The arrested officials have been identified as Kayima Godfrey (Accounting Officer), Nakabugo Rose (Ag. Commissioner Disaster), Esther Majorine Odongo (Procurement Officer) And Agaba Tumwine Henry (Internal Auditor).
While touring Kasese district on 20th July, 2021, Prime Minister Nabbanja rejected relief items meant for flood victims in Kasese District, on the grounds that they were substandard and forwarded the matter to Col.Edith Nakalema for investigations.
The rejected Substandard items were 40,000kgs of maize flour, 20,000kgs of beans, 2,000kgs of sugar, 2,000 pieces of tarpaulin, 1,350 jerry cans, 1,000 basins, 100 cartons of laundry soap, 1,000 mosquito nets, 100 blankets, and 100 mats.
“Kasese District is not a dumping ground, I have rejected the blankets and mosquito nets because they are substandard. The supplier must bring good ones, these are the things that paint a bad image of our government,” Nabbanja said as she met the flood victims.
Col.Nakalema vowed to arrest the whole racket until until all those who were involved in procurement and supplies of Substandard consortium of goods are brought to book.