KAMPALA-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: Palisa municipality Member of Parliament Charles Otukol has been summoned over beating a journalist who was taking his pictures after a court session relating to the MPs alleged Corruption activities.
MP Otukol clobbered Mr Bunya Emmanuel,a photographer with the Col Nakalema led Anti Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) on Friday. After the incident, the MP sped away but his two body guards were arrested and detained at Jinja Road Police Station.
On Monday, Otukol was summoned by the Mr Katto Tumuhimbise who signed the summonses on behalf of the Director CID. Otukol has been asked to appear on November 24 at 10 am.
Background
After being charged with theft and conspiracy to commit a felony in a Shs. 2bn scandal Hon Otukol Samuel, the MP of Palisa Municipality decided to beat a photojournalist for fear of being exposed.
Otukol boxed to oblivion one of the staff staff of the Col Edith Nakalema led Anti Corruption Unit SH-ACU at the anti corruption court in Kampala where he was charged on Friday.
Otukol accused the photographer of taking his pictures while he was getting out of a Court session.
SH-ACU received a petition in February 2020, alleging Otukol Samuel alias Okello Samuel had connived with the accounting officers of two municipalities and three local governments respectively in the respective order of Apac, Jinja, Manafwa, Butebo and Namisindwa to swindle over sh. 2 billion employees money.
It is alleged the MP connived and colluded with the directors of different
companies under the guise of loan deductions and stole from civil servants salaries.
By the help of the accounting officers, the ill-gotten money was invested in SACCOs and Private Companies such as United Development ,SAMIX Ug.ltd and others at large.
When Otukol was arrested along his group, they claimed that the money was to pay the loan arrears for the District teachers which was not true after the investigations.
Commenting about the bearing of the photographer, Col Nakalema said;”nothing would derail, or intimidate us from carrying on her duty as mandated. We will not stop exposing the corrupt. It is through exposure that a strong signal is sent to the would be corrupt to think twice before rationalizing to commit a fraud”
Over 2 billion was fraudulently paid to different companies by officials in two Municipal Councils; Apac and Jinja, and three Local Governments; Namisindwa, Manafwa and Butebo.
Col Nakalema’s investigations into the matter commenced on 19th February 2020 and on 28th February, about 7 officials involved were interdicted to pave way for investigations.
Investigations into Butebo and Namisindwa local governments were concluded and officials were on Friday arraigned before the Anti- Corruption Court at Kololo to answer charges of abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud, theft and embezzlement of funds.
In Butebo, over UGX175 million was paid to Sammix Uganda Limited, Litigation International, Otap limited and Zedkol financial services. Similarly, in Namisindwa over UGX495 million was paid to United Dev’t Sacco, Sammix Uganda and Zedkol financial services.
The State House Anti- Corruption Unit has since caused the recovery of 125million shillings which has already been deposited into the DPP recovery account in Bank of Uganda.
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