Lira Official Interdicted Over Forgery
LIRA – Josephine Alobo, the District Commercial Officer (DCO) of Lira, has been interdicted for forgery as she uttered false documents of a Savings and Credit Co-operative (SACCO), receiving money by false pretense and abuse of office.
Alobo’s troubles stemmed from a purported attendance list belonging to Ayago SACCO, she together with four others allegedly forged, largely to become signatories to the SACCO’s bank account. They were arrested before accomplishing the mission.
Before her interdiction, Alobo and her co-accused were remanded by Lira High Court on two counts of obtaining credit by false pretense and forgery, contrary to section 34 of the Penal Code Act. They were released on bail on April 15 2021.
She was later interdicted pending conclusion of the investigation.
In the interdiction letter obtained by theCooperator, the Chief Administrative Officer of Lira Ben Ogwete Otim accused Alobo of forgery by falsifying documents.
“Your attention is hereby drawn to a criminal case vide Ref: CRB128/2021, which culminated in your arraignment in court and charged with the offences of Forgery C/S 342, Uttering False Documents C/S 351, and making Documents without Authority C/S 355 (a) of the Penal Code Act Cap 120, Laws of Uganda.”
“Your codes in this matter involve falsification of records or documents; acts that bring the service into disrepute and is of a criminal nature. These are all in contravention of the Public Service Standing Orders, 2010, Section (F-s) (x, b),” the letter partly reads.
“In view of the above and in accordance with Article 189 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and Regulation 38 (b) of the Public Service Commission Regulations CAP 277 as well as Section (F-s) (2) and (B) of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders 2010, you are hereby interdicted from duty with immediate effect to pave way for further investigation and disposal of the said case,” the letter says.
According to Otim, Alobo’s interdiction took effect on June 24 2021. Although she will be receiving a half, salary for the next six months, she is not allowed to leave the country without permission from the District Chief Administrative Officer.
He said Santos Olade, the Lira deputy commercial officer, will take over office during Alobo’s absence. Interviewed, Alobo confirmed her interdiction but roundly denied all the allegations leveled against her.
“Of course I am interdicted and that is the law. I can confirm to you I have the letter with me, but I can also confirm to you that the allegations are baseless, I am preparing a satisfactory defense within the next 14 days as the law permits,” she said in a June 26 telephone interview.
Alobo’s interdiction brings to five, the number of Lira district officials interdicted within four months, over alleged fraudulent acts.
In March 2021, Pabious Otike, the district Natural Resource Officer, Francis Opio, the staff surveyor, senior Land Management Officer Joseph Ocen and secretary District Land Board Helen Anyango, were all interdicted for allegedly selling the district land to Peter Okoda, a businessman in Lira City.
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