Afande Gen Muhoozi, help us get rid of officials who ate Shs 9bn meant for Karamoja operations

As our next leader who does not tolerate corrupt officials, and this leader is Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces, we do request you to start fresh investigations on the officials in the Office of the Prime Minister who shared Shs 9 billion meant for operations in Karamoja.

These officials, some of them were arrested, but they dished out money that made them walk freely; others are still in office, while others, though they have lost elections, are free.

To give you a clear picture of this money, in 2022, the government of Uganda allocated Shs 39 billion for various activities, including disarmament in Karamoja.

This money was supposed to be utilised as follows: Shs 22 billion for procuring goats to distribute to the youth who voluntarily handed over their guns to the government. Although samples of the goats were procured, a large part of the youth never received these goats.

Shs 8 billion was supposed to be used for purchasing iron sheets to be distributed to the Karimojong reformed youth. The iron sheets were bought, and each district was supposedto have received 1,000 iron sheets for the initial launch before the entire consignment was delivered to the respective districts, but unfortunately, the team in charge of Karamoja affairs only used 1,000 iron sheets for the regional launch, and the balance was kept in the store, which was later shared by many government officials.

Shs 9 billion was supposed to be used for operations, including allowances and fuel for the designated officials in the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs; however, this Shs 9 billion was eaten by individuals.

Well, although some of these officials were arrested, including commissioners and personal assistants, some of them managed to use money to interfere with investigations, and they are freely working in the same offices, while others were jailed and dismissed.

My concern is that this stolen Shs 9bn has never been recovered to be used for the budgeted purpose. I humbly request our CDF, Gen. Muhoozi, to help us ensure that whoever was involved in stealing this money should be dismissed from the job, arrested, and the money recovered through their personal assets.

To be sincere, if this money was well utilised, the Karimojong wouldn’t be crying like this of poverty because that money would have helped in changing their lifestyle. But instead, people who have apartments in Kampala and Mbale took the money and used part of it to hire lawyers who helped them walk freely.

With your tough stand against corruption, as young Ugandans, we believe you will deal with these thieves and they will vomit out the money, as you have so far recovered Shs 2 trillion from corrupt officials.