Terego LC5 in hot soup over sh10m spent on Sweden trip

Terego district LC5 chairperson is in the hot soup over allegations that he used local government money to fund a trip to Sweden.

Reports reaching New Vision Online indicate that top West Nile region civil and political leaders were invited to Sweden last month by sons and daughters working in the Nordic region for resource mobilisation meeting for development.

Howerver, a handful of prominent leaders including Terego Woman Member of Parliament Rose Obiga and LC5 chairperson Wilfred Saka were in attendance in the conference held in Swedish capital Stockholm.

Each participant was reportedly responsible to cater for their travel expenses for the trip.

It is alleged that part of the money used by Saka, about shillings 10 million came from the district's account.

As a result, a disgruntled resident of Terego has petitioned the Inspectorate of Government over the matter. Arua city-based businessman Eric Alema, a resident of Bileafe sub-county, has urged the IGG to investigate the criteria of allocating the government resource for the trip.

To back the investigation Alema recently also petitioned Terego chief administrative officer to avail a copy of the payment voucher as proof for the alleged illegally paid money for a conference meant to benefit West Nile.

“I am reliably informed that the air ticket for the trip was provided by an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) and the per diem was given by A local NGO. So, why should the chairperson also come and pick money from the district,” Alema said.

Alema accuses Saka of using public development fund to fund a trip he considered as a honeymoon with Obiga.

He claims that the trip was not cleared by the foreign affairs ministry and that the money from the district was not approved in the district budget for the running financial year.

“The LC5 chairperson should have used the invitation letter from the organisers to forward a request to foreign affairs to check whether the trip is in line with local government to grant travel permission unless the CAO proves this the payment has no justification,” Alema stated.

Alema defended his action although it is attracting wide condemnation from Saka's sympathisers on the different social media platforms.

“Our conscious judges us, I am acting alone but I am acting for Terego. Corruption here will affect entire Terego. Today, it is the Sweden trip but there may be other payments done illegally here, fighting for corruption does not mean we should have a rally, each person should address corruption in any opportunity he/she gets because every coin must be accounted for and corruption in the community affects everybody,” Alema explained.

Saka shrugs off accusations

Saka shrugged off the accusation arguing that the value for items donated to the district to improve service delivery in heath and hospitality sectors surpasses the value of the money contested.

Politically motivated allegations

While Terego woman MP Rose Obiga says the allegation is politically motivated to kill her career.

“It shameful to say we went to Sweden with LC5 chairman for honeymoon, shame on the devil. Today they say I am married to Andua Drani who is my relative, tomorrow if they hear the chairman of Uriam is speaking to me they say I am married to him, how many men am I married to? Others say she is [not straight], if you have nothing to talk to your people shut your mouth,” Obiga said.