IG directs two Lira district senior officials to refund sh15m

LIRA - The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has directed two senior officials from Lira District Local Government (DLG) to refund shillings 15.8 million, which was irregularly paid to them or else face prosecution.

The officials are assistant district health officer Edmonton Acheka and education assistant Luciano Ondongorik.

The directive was issued on July 29, 2025, by deputy Inspector General of Government Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe following investigations by the IG Lira Regional Office.

Investigations conducted established that Acheka while working as assistant district health officer in charge of maternal health from April 2015 to September 2016, accumulated salary arrears worth shillings 20.5 million.

In August 2021, Lira district paid him shillings 20.5 million without deducting the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax amounting to shillings six million.

Luciano Ondongorik was deleted from the payroll of Lira DLG in 2008. He filed a complaint in the Industrial Court and a consent agreement was arrived at.

The district agreed to pay him shillings 32.7 million as unpaid arrears from July 2008 to May 2016.

However, in August 2021, Lira DLG paid him shillings 32.7 million without deducting PAYE worth shillings 9.7 million.

According to Muhairwe, the failure to deduct PAYE contravened Section 19 (1) (a) of the Income Tax Act, Cap 338.

The section stipulates that any income derived by an employee from any employment and includes the following amounts, whether of a revenue or capital nature – any wages, salary, leave pay, payment in lieu of leave, overtime pay, fees, commission, gratuity, bonus or the amount of any travelling, entertainment, utilities, cost of living, housing, medical or other allowance is subjected to PAYE.

The Deputy IGG directed the duo to deposit the money into the Inspectorate of Government Assets Recovery account number held with the Bank of Uganda, within 60 days.

“Failure to comply with the directive will lead to prosecution,” she directed.
The IG reminds all public officers to always stick to the professional code of conduct while executing their duties and avoid any actions that can compromise their integrity.