OPM official remanded for embezzlement

By Edward  Anyoli     

A coordinator  for  disaster   risk  reduction  in  the  Office  of  the Prime  Minsiter was Tuesday charged  with  embezzlement of sh34m and remanded  to to  Luzira prsion.

Racheal Nakiwuge Muleke was  charged  before  the Anti-Corruption  Court  by Chief  Magistrate  Sarah  Langa Siu.

She denied  twelve  charges  which  included embezzlement, false  accounting, forgery  and uttering  false  document.

Chief Magistrate  Langa  remanded   Nakiwuge   to  Luzira  prison  after  her surites  failed  to  present   LCI  introductory  letters.

"Court  will  make  a  ruling  on  this  application (bail) after  the surities have  furnished  court  with  LCI introductory  letter,"  Langa  said.

Prosecution led  by state attorney   David Bisamunyu  alleged  that  Nakiwuge  between  2010  and 2011, being  an employee  of  the Office of the  Prime  Minister as  national coordinator  for  disaster  risk reduction  stole, sh34.6m  belonging  to   Government.

It  is  also  alleged  that  Nakiwuge while employed as a coordinator risk reduction presented  fake  accountability  receipts  for  funds  she reportedly  received.

Proscution  accused   Nakiwuge  of  forging  accountability  forms claiming  to  have  been writen  and  signed by different officials from the Prime  Minister's office as  accountability  for relief  distribution in  Kiryandongo  district.

Nakiwuge  allegedly forged another accountability form on September 19, 2011 claming  to  be  acccountability  for  travel  for contigency planning.

She  is  also  accused  of  presenting  fraudulent accountability  to  the  officials in the Office of the  Prime  Minister  claiming  it  was  funds  received  for  humanaitarian  profile  for the  year  2012.

Prosecution said Nakiwuge on  March25, 2011  fraudulently  presented  accoutability  forms purporting that it is accountability  for supervision and  opening of  Panyadori Health  Centre II in Kiryadongo  district.