Amolatar engineer on spotlight over Shs 150mln
AMOLATAR– Amolatar district senior assistant engineer, Robert Okidi is facing charges of abuse of office and causing financial loss amounting to Shs 150 million. He has been sent home to pave way for investigations.
According to sources in the district, four years ago the government injected Shs 500mln to upgrade Nakatiti Health Centre II in Muntu Subcounty to Health Centre III status but the construction has stalled and the contractor cannot be traced.
The contract was awarded to Otada Construction Company Ltd and it was supposed to build a single block housing the Out Patient Department (OPD), maternity, labor room, children’s ward, and a laboratory.
The Amolatar district LC5 chairperson Geoffrey Ocen said the construction started in 2018 and it was supposed to be completed in 2019 and handed over to the district, but nothing happened.
“It delayed for three years and in 2021, the contractor requested for additional time to complete the work despite the fact that he was fully paid,” Ocen said.
As a result of the delay, Ocen asked the State House Anti-corruption Unit [ACU]to pick interest in the case and start investigations.
He said early last year the contractor received the remaining balance of Shs 150m after getting clearance and recommendation from Okidi.
According to a letter issued by the Amolator district Chief Administrative Officer [CAO]Patrick Olila, Okidi is being investigated by ACU over the abuse of office and causing financial loss to the district and “should not step foot in the office to pave way for investigation”.
Olila said he was left with no option but to interdict Okidi from performing his duties as senior assistant engineering officer.
“While on interdiction, you will be required to receive a half monthly salary and you are not allowed to stay near the premises,” he wrote.
Okidi, when contacted, said he had received the interdiction letter and was still studying it.
“The CAO acted hurriedly because the matter is still under investigation and the file has not been sanctioned,” he said.
According to the Public Standing Orders, interdiction is the temporary removal of a public officer from exercising his or her duties while an investigation over a particular misconduct is being carried out.
This shall be carried out by the responsible officer by observing that the charges against an officer are investigated expeditiously and concluded.
While receiving half pay he will be subjected to a refund of the other half, in case the interdiction is lifted and the charges are dropped.
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