12 arrested over theft of census gadgets in Oyam

7 June 2024, 11:17 am

By Chris Woo

The territorial police in Oyam district have arrested the district Information Technology Officer and 11 Subcounty supervisors over loss of computer tablets and power banks that were used during the recently concluded national housing and population census. Their arrest was ordered by Oyam Resident District Commissioner, William Komakec.

The suspects have been identified as Clement Otim, the Subcounty chief of Aber, Angwec Topista, the parish chief of Loro, Atine Joel Jago, the Subcounty chief of Iceme, Ogwal Tobias, the Subcounty chief of Myene, Ocen Ambrose, the Community Development Officer of Aleka, Owani Ambrose, the Subcounty chief of Minakulu, Kica Jolly Joe of Oyam town council, Ogwang Denis, driver at the planning department and Dila Ronald, the district IT officer of Oyam also son to the district chairman, Dila Benson.
RDC Komakec said Oyam district received 1487 census tablets from government to support enumeration during the recent census exercise but only 1,447 were returned, meaning 40 were lost.

He said the district also received 1,409 power banks but only 1,264 were returned, indicating loss of 144 power banks.

SP Edison Muhangi, the District Police Commander of Oyam said the suspects have been charged with abuse of office and theft, vide SD Ref: 26/05/06/2024.

John Mark Agong, the district Census Officer of Oyam who doubles as the district planner said the supervisors returned the gadgets but never appended their signatures, which makes it difficult to ascertain whether all of them returned the gadgets.
Benson Dilla, the LCV chairman of Oyam said the supervisors could have kept the gadgets in protest over delays by Uganda Bureau of Statistics to pay their allowances. He asked those still holding the gadgets to return them.