UGANDA: 3 more Works officials arrested

By ANDREW BAGALA

Detectives have arrested more three officials of the Works ministry, bringing the number of those held to six.

The officials include the principal internal auditor, Mr Ambrose Asiimwe, Mr Ivan Aliba from the IT department, and an economist only identified as Akino.

The three are detained at Jinja Road Police Station and by press time, they were yet to be transferred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence to record statements.

A police source, who preferred anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to the press, said the arrest and detention of the officials is in connection with the suspected embezzlement of Shs76m government money.

This was on pretext that they had organised a two-day residential workshop to sensitize transport stakeholders at Imperial Royale Hotel between January 8 and 9 this year.

“They were arrested to help us with the investigations of the suspected embezzlement and fraud. They are yet to record a statement,” the source sad.

Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said she was yet to get the details of the arrest.

Workshop ‘did not take place’ 

The officials allegedly were supposed to hold a half-day workshop at the same hotel at a cost of Shs6m but said workshop reportedly did not take place. 

On Wednesday, detectives arrested at least 10 people from the ministry and Imperial Royale Hotel but later focused on only six officials.

Some of the ministry officials arrested are, acting transport commissioner Rose Mary Tibiwa, Mr Roger Kisambira, a civil engineer, and Mr Anthony Kwesiga, an economist.

The officials are still in detention at Jinja Road and Kabalagala police stations as police continue to search their homes and residences.

Detectives on Thursday interrogated three Imperial Royale Hotel officials, including the financial controller, Mr Phat Raghupathi, the accountant, Mr Paul Kintu, and the marketing executive, Mr Ronald Ssengendo, for more than seven hours.

Detectives said the Imperial Royale Hotel documents seem to be genuine, raising suspicion that there was suspected connivance between ministry officials and hotel managers.

Source: Daily Monitor (18/02/2013): http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/3-more-Works-officials-arrested/-/688334/1697002/-/h9uwamz/-/index.html