Patrick Oketayot, embattled Nakapiripirit district engineer has dragged the attorney general and members of the probe committee that was appointed by Janet Museveni, the minister in charge of Karamoja affairs last year to investigate alleged corruption in district. The probe committee members are Remigio Achia, Pian county MP, Godfrey Aluma, Nakapiripirit Resident District commissioner, his Deputy Bernard Oryema and LC V chairperson John Lorot.
Others are the Nakapiripirit District Police Commander, Cox Apamaku, the officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department Nakapiripirit central police station Topher Gimei, the District Internal security officer Mohammed Wetaka Nangai and the former intelligence officer D.G Mulindwa. Oketayot accuses the probe committee members of encroaching and intruding into his privacy and freedom and invasion on his place of employment and home with threats to arrest, detain and prosecute him.
In his affidavit, Oketayot claims that the reports produced by the team implicating him to have mismanaged and embezzled the district funds made recommendations without the seeking for the opinions of experts. He also says there were no audits reports which would guide the committee in reaching a fair and just decision. Otekayot contends that the accused have since instituted criminal Offences against him at CID Headquarters in Kampala and Nakapiripirit Police station.
He argues that he will suffer irreparable injury if he loses his privacy, liberty and freedom once arrested on fabricated claims. Otekayot says that without cause and the loss of his employment and the attendant benefits it cannot be adequately atoned by any amount of money. The registrar of High court civil division Kampala has summoned the accused officials to appear in court on March 12th.
The suit stems from a report the committee issued implicating the engineer and other district officials for alleged abuse of office and corruption. The committee chaired by Remijo Achia, the Pian County MP unearthed various anomalies some of which it classified as criminal in nature and called for the prosecution of the implicated officials.
The report indicates that management of government properties especially vehicles, motorcycles, computer and supplies is extremely poor. Some of the officials implicated in the report include, Mark Kocho D, the district Chief Finance officer, Joseph Ngiro Kelia, the district Procurement officer and Patrick Oketayot, the district engineer among others.
Rev. Father Simon Lokodo, the state minister for ethics recently ordered for their arrest after he visited the district and found that they had fled from their officers fearing his team. One of the accused Bernard Oryema, the deputy RDC confirmed receiving criminal summons saying they are ready to face the court.
