By Bondry Kilenga
Tension is high in Kotido Municipality as the State House Anti-Corruption Unit launches investigations into various corruption allegations against Municipal Council officials.
Pressure started mounting among the municipal official on Monday morning when official communication came in indicating that the State House Anti-Corruption Unit team was going to pitch campaign at the Municipality.
Charles Ichogor, the RDC of Kotido, stated that one of the key corruption allegations the unit is investigating, is the alleged embezzlement of Shs 1 billion, which the central government disburses to cities, municipalities, and districts for road works under Uganda Road Fund (URF).
On Wednesday morning at 11:00 am, municipal officials from the engineering department led by Jaspher Okidi, the municipal engineer were seen by a reporter sweating profusely as they were being grilled by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit team in a closed-door meeting.
In March, 2025, Kotido Municipal Council took a decisive step towards infrastructural development by undertaking a comprehensive Shs 1 billion road rehabilitation project.
The road rehabilitation initiative aimed at revamping nine community access roads measuring 22.1 kilometres which have for decades been in deplorable state for decades.
Among the roads are Mirersiae-Napuwa (2kms), Momugor-Kotyang (3.5kms), Nangayum-Kawalapei (4.1kms), Rom-rom-Nakutakwam (1.5kms), Lokochil-Kapuyon (2.1kms).
Others include Chairman road (4.8 kms), Business road (4.1kms), Lokore-Kotyang (3.8kms) and Lodipidip-Losogot-Looi (2.3kms).
According to the information obtained by our reporter from covert sources, the three months road rehabilitation works expected to be complete before June 30, 2025, were awarded to three companies.
The companies include, Great Deeds Supply and Construction Company, Symphony Investment Group Limited and Arigos Agricultural Inputs.
However, the road works have since stalled, with piles of unspread marram visible on some roads and this has caused public outrage, with some demanding a thorough audit of the project.
On July 1, 2025, the Town Clerk Emmanuel Okaja, extended the contract period by three months to enable the contractors complete the remaining works, citing delays in the procurement process.
According to the new extensions the contractors were expected to complete the unfinished work by the end of September, 2025 and there would be no more extension.
Despite deadline extension, some roads remain incomplete up to date.
Ichogor, told our report that the State House Anti-Corruption Unit team, composed of accountants and civil‑engineers, will audit all relevant documentation, including bills of quantities, receipts, and contractors’ reports to verify the allegation of inflation of figures among others.
Efforts to get a comment from the Town Clerk Emmanuel Okaja were futile as he was not accessible to the media by press time.
