Voice of Lango
Lira CAO remanded to Luzira Prison
16 May 2023, 7:10 pm
Lira district CAO, Ben Ogwete Otim (in suit) arriving at the Anti-Corruption Court
By Denis Okello (denis.okello@vol.co.ug)
Kampala.
The Anti-Corruption Court has charged the embattled Lira District Chief Administrative Officer Ben Paul Ogwete Otim and remanded him to Luzira prison until Thursday 18th May 2023.
Otim Ogwete, 60, was arrested Monday evening from Lira City by senior detectives from the State House Anticorruption Unit and driven to Kampala, where he was paraded before the Kololo based anti-corruption court Tuesday afternoon.
Appearing before the Anti-corruption court, the flamboyant career civil servant was charged with abuse of office and corruption.
Otim Ogwete appearing before the Anti corruption Court in Kololo
According to prosecution, Otim in abuse of his authority, refused to communicate contents of letters from the Permanent Secretary, ministry of lands housing and urban development, halting all district land boards transactions on land falling within the jurisdiction of Lira City until government decides on how such land and other properties were to be shared.
Otim however asked court to release him on bail since he is of advanced age and currently on medication.
The court has now set 18th May 2023 as the date in which it will rule on his bail application.
Otim’s problem stems from the alleged numerous fraudulent sale of public land in Ireda, Lira City East Division.
Ogwete Otim is now the highest ranking district official to be charged in court from Lira over issues concerning fraudulent sale of the government land.
The other top district officials who are battling charges in court include; the district natural resource officer Fabious Otike and senior lands officer Joseph Ocen Alwong.