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Kamdini SAS, CDO handed to police over UWA funds misuse

13 June 2025, 4:09 pm

The Resident District Commissioner of Oyam District, Sgt Shilaku James, questioning the Community Development Officer of Kamdini, Tommy Okello, on how he and the Senior Assistant Secretary misused UWA revenue-sharing funds.

By Eman Yonah Oruk and Daniel Oyat Obong

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Oyam, Shilaku James, yesterday handed over Kamdini Sub-County Senior Assistant Secretary (SAS) Tobias Ogwal and Community Development Officer (CDO) Tommy Okello to Oyam Central Police Station to record statements regarding their alleged failure to account for 51 million shillings in Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) funds.

The funds were part of the 81 million shillings allocated under the revenue-sharing programme intended to support communities living near the park and affected by wildlife threats. The officials are accused of misappropriating the funds, creating ghost projects within the community, and coercing residents into presenting items they did not purchase with UWA money, instead of those genuinely procured under the programme.

RDC oyam Sgt Shilaku James on UWA money.

Terence Omwony, the LC3 Chairperson of Kamdini Sub-County, blamed district technical leaders for denying local leaders access to the sub county treasury. He stated that this lack of access makes it difficult to verify how funds are utilised by sub-county government officials, as accountability reports are only presented to the council.

Terence Omwony, the LC3 Chairperson on blamed lango.

Patrick Aget, who represented the community of Juma Parish during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the LC5 Chairperson’s office in Oyam Town Council, welcomed the decision and commended the district leaders for taking prompt action.

Patrick Aget on his excitement over action taken.

Attempts to obtain a comment from Wilson Kagoro, the Wildlife Conservation Officer for Murchison Falls National Park, were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

During a follow-up meeting on Wednesday, community members living near the park voiced their frustration to district officials, stating that Kamdini Sub County has become a hub of corruption among technical staff, who continue to neglect the needs of the community.

When questioned about the mismanagement of funds, the Senior Assistant Secretary (SAS) and Community Development Officer (CDO) reportedly responded dismissively, using an analogy comparing the anatomy of a goat to that of a cow.