Busia District LC5 Chairperson Ouma Adea was briefly arrested on Wednesday evening for allegedly refusing to hand over office and a government vehicle he has been using.
Adea was arrested and bundled on to a police vehicle and driven to Tororo to help locate the vehicle.
Fearing that the vehicle would be removed from him, Adea had driven and parked it in a hidden place at Tororo Taxi Park. He was later driven together with the vehicle to Tororo central police station from where the vehicle was driven back to Busia.
After his arrest, Adea had a bitter exchange with the Busia District Police Commander, Bob Kagarura accusing the DPC of witch hunt.
But Kagarura assured the chairperson that he was only doing his work as directed by the Minister.
The local government Minister Adolf Mwesigye had directed Adea to hand over office to his deputy until he is cleared by the anti corruption court of allegations of soliciting a bribe from Busitema Gold Mining Company. Instead of going by the minister’s directive, Adea filed a court injunction blocking the Minister’s order.
Court ordered that in the interest of justice, the status quo remains till the delivery of the ruling.
This move seems to have angered the Minister who ordered for Adea’s arrest on Wednesday unless he handed over the vehicle and office.
He was set free immediately the vehicle was impounded from him.
Adea’s arrest came hardly a day after he resumed office on Tuesday.
On November 8th 2011, Ouma Adea was charged with corruptly soliciting and receiving money, and abuse of office.
State led by Rukia Nambozo, told court in Kampala that Adea on various dates in November 2011 corruptly solicited for gratification of 2,000 dollars from Paul Sherwen, the managing director of Busitema Mining Company.
The money was an inducement to allow the company survey land at Tiira trading centre at Busitema Sub County in busia district for purposes of mining gold.
Appearing before grade one magistrate Emmanuel Baguma, court heard that Ouma received the money at Golf Course Hotel on Yusuf Lule road in Kampala.
Ouma was released on bail of 40 million shillings not cash. His three sureties including the Samia Bugwe MP John Mulimba and Iganga LC 5 chairperson, Shaban Nkutu were asked to pay 50 million shillings not cash.
