Oyam headteacher arrested over alleged embezzlement

24 November 2025, 20:01

By Winnie Auma

Local leaders surrounding Omele Primary School in Oyam District have arrested and handed over the school headteacher to police over allegations of embezzlement.

According to Samuel Obang, the LC1 Chairperson of Baromele Village in Otwal Subcounty, the school headteacher, Geoffrey Apelo, was arrested today from the school premises.

Obang said Apelo allegedly forged signatures of some school leaders, withdrew 12 million shillings from the school account, and then disappeared.

He explained that Apelo resurfaced today, and when the school management and local leaders realised he was present, they alerted police at Otwal Police Station, who had been notified following his disappearance.

Obang expressed dismay at Apelo’s behaviour, accusing him of absenteeism, which he said hinders learners’ education in many ways.

Moses Ocen, the Chairperson of the Primary Teachers’ Association, said that out of the 12 million shillings fraudulently taken by Apelo, 10.3 million shillings were from the Universal Primary Education (UPE) funds.

He added that 1.8 million shillings came from funds provided to the school by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to support the education of vulnerable and disabled learners.

Patrick Agella, the Chairperson of the School Management Committee, said that a case of theft and obtaining money by false pretence has been filed against Apelo under SD reference 03/24/11/2025.