State House Anti Corruption Unit Arrests Bukedea District RDC And DPC
By Uganda Online Media
The Bukedea district Resident District Commissioner Mr. Wilberforce Tukei and District Police Commander SP Charles Okoto have been arrested by the State House Anti Corruption Unit following an intensive investigation into reported criminal activities in the recent LC V Chairperson by-elections in Bukedea District,
According to the Unit, the RDC Bukedea, Mr. Wilberforce Tukei and the DPC , SP Charles Okoto have been arrested for failing to act on, among others, rampant acts of intimidation and assault of some candidates, polling agents, journalists and voters.
”These incidents occurred before, during and after elections. As Head of the District Security Committee, the RDC plays an oversight role of Govt activities/programs in the District. He also coordinates all other Government departmental Heads and engages on any emergency that has come up. In Election time, RDC coordinates and ensures smooth transition in election time which did not happen in this case. So far, 8 people have been arrested including ,RDC Bukedea Wilberforce Tukei, SP Charles Okoto, D/ASP Ehguloiti Alex, PC Akankwasa Onesmus, D/C Oriokot Simon Peter, PC Kamakoin Difas PC Born Naibei and Malinga Dan”. Anti Corruption Unit said in a statement on Monday evening.
President Museveni recently directed the State House Anti Corruption Unit to kick off investigations into last month’s violent Bukedea LC5 by-election which among others saw one of the candidates beaten and stripped naked at the Electoral Commission offices.
“Therefore, investigate these claims and if any criminality was committed, take action and report back. Such actions are not only electoral offences. They are also criminals. I am, therefore, directing you to handle the criminals,” Museveni said in the June, 26 directive to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit head, Brig Henry Isoke.
Ahead of the June 15, 2023 by-election, one of the aspirants, David Steven Omagor, on an independent ticket was attacked by a group of over 50 goons as he approached the Electoral Commission offices for nomination.
He was badly beaten by the goons who had surrounded him and in the process, his clothes were torn whereas the same group made off with his nomination papers.
Earlier, there was also a raid at Omagor’s home and several documents including nomination papers he had earlier prepared stolen as well as campaign cash amounting to shs162 million.
The by-election was later won by NRM’s Mary Akol won the by-election after Omagor had withdrawn from the race.
In his directive to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, President Museveni said he had been informed that the violence was orchestrated by government officials who invaded Omagor’s house, confiscated his academic papers and stole shs163 million cash.
Museveni said all this was done to stop Omagor from being nominated.
“The EC had to extend the nomination days when he appealed. Even then when he went for nomination, he was attacked at the gate of the Electoral Commission. Come election morning, Government officials invaded the polling stations and voted on behalf of the voters. This sounds like a film,” he says.
