QFM
Government officials arrested over alleged theft of hand hoes
2 July 2026, 7:25 pm
By Regina Lalam Olal
Police in Alebtong District have arrested two local government officials after recovering 102 government hand hoes allegedly stolen from a sub-county store and hidden inside a suspect’s house.
The suspects are:
- Odongo Isaac Walter, 48, Sub-county Chief, Adwir Sub-county
- Ongom Lawrence, 40, Parish Chief, Olwero Parish, Adwir Sub-county
SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson, said the theft is part of a wider case involving 206 hand hoes reported missing from the Adwir Sub-county store on 29 June 2026.
The case was reported at Adwir Police Station on 30 June 2026 at 9:41am by Mathias Lutwama, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Alebtong.
How the hoes were recovered
SP Okema said that at around 1:00am on 30 June, the Deputy RDC received calls from residents reporting an alleged break-in at the Adwir store.
Residents suspected the two officials of conspiring to steal hoes intended for household distribution under a government programme.
Police, together with the Deputy RDC and local leaders, searched the residence of Ongom Lawrence and recovered 102 hand hoes concealed under a bed.
“Preliminary findings suggest that the reported break-in was staged, indicating that the incident may have been fabricated to disguise the theft,” SP Okema said.
The recovered hoes have been exhibited as evidence. Detectives are now tracing the remaining 104 missing hoes and investigating whether more suspects were involved.
SP Okema confirmed that the hoes were part of a presidential donation to Alebtong District Local Government to support households.
“We would like to warn errant local leaders who are sabotaging government programmes that we are ready and prepared to ensure they face the full force of the law once investigations are concluded,” he said.
Investigations are ongoing, and police say further arrests may follow.