The proposal by Sam Ogenworth, Arua Chief Administrative Officer to buy off a piece of land belonging to the district has drawn condemnation from councilors. The disputed 200 square meter piece of land is located in the upscale Anyafio residential area. It was bought from the central government through Uganda Land Board to accommodate Chief Administrative Officers deployed in the district.
However, the councilors claim that they have leaked information that Ogenworth and Sam Nyakua, Arua LC V chairman are working behind doors with Uganda Land Commission to buy off the land and houses on it. But the councilors led by Luiji Candini, the councilor for Ayivu says the plot by the two officials to buy of the land is wrong because it will leave the district without any house to accommodate their CAO, once Ogenworth is transferred.
He also says that the CAO is using illegal means to acquire the house since the decision to dispose of the house must be approved by the district council. Emmanuel Munduni, the councilor for Katrina says that his investigations show that the CAO plans to influence the district land board to sell him the land but vows to block it.
The councilors have set up a committee to investigate how far the CAO and LC V chairman have gone with the process of transferring the property in the name of the CAO. Kanona Viga, the councilor for Omugo Sub County says that once the process of the illegal acquisition of the house is not stopped immediately they will seek a court order to block the transaction. Sam Wadri Nyakua, Arua LC V chairman says that the CAO expressed interest to buy the house but when he tabled the matter in his executive it was rejected.
Nyakua has welcomed the decision by councilors to investigate the allegations brought against him for his involvement in the illegal sale of the district property. Ogenworth has not yet commented on the allegations as he is away in South African on official duty. But his deputy Martin Gwoktho says that to the best of his knowledge the land is not being sold despite the fact his boss expressed interest in buying it.
