Lira official held over sh400m
Mar 20, 2011
CHRISTOPHER Odongo has been charged with 403 counts of embezzlement and causing financial loss and false accounting.
By Emmanuel Opio
and Bill Oketch
CHRISTOPHER Odongo has been charged with 403 counts of embezzlement and causing financial loss and false accounting.
Odongo has been working with Restoration of Agricultural Livelihoods in Northern Uganda Component.
It is alleged that Odongo received a grant of over sh400m from the Danish International Development Agency to implement a road construction project in Lira district but diverted the fund to facilitate his own activities.
Odongo, who is a resident of Arwotomito parish, Aromo sub-county in Lira district, is the first to be charged in Lira Magistrates Court with hundreds of counts since its inception.
Odongo was arrested by the Police last year after a two year investigation by the Inspector General of Government.
While testifying in court as a state witness, the Abiting parish chief, George Awio, accused Odongo of falsifying documents to benefit from the project he was assigned to implement.
“The signature that appeared on the attendance list of October 27, 2006 is not my signature. I only attended Odongo’s training in 2008,†Awio said.
“Even Joyland Hotel, which Odongo claimed to have organised his workshop from, does not exist.â€
Odongo appeared before chief magistrate Irene Akankwasa on Friday.
The case was adjourned to May 9, when it would come for further hearing.
and Bill Oketch
CHRISTOPHER Odongo has been charged with 403 counts of embezzlement and causing financial loss and false accounting.
Odongo has been working with Restoration of Agricultural Livelihoods in Northern Uganda Component.
It is alleged that Odongo received a grant of over sh400m from the Danish International Development Agency to implement a road construction project in Lira district but diverted the fund to facilitate his own activities.
Odongo, who is a resident of Arwotomito parish, Aromo sub-county in Lira district, is the first to be charged in Lira Magistrates Court with hundreds of counts since its inception.
Odongo was arrested by the Police last year after a two year investigation by the Inspector General of Government.
While testifying in court as a state witness, the Abiting parish chief, George Awio, accused Odongo of falsifying documents to benefit from the project he was assigned to implement.
“The signature that appeared on the attendance list of October 27, 2006 is not my signature. I only attended Odongo’s training in 2008,†Awio said.
“Even Joyland Hotel, which Odongo claimed to have organised his workshop from, does not exist.â€
Odongo appeared before chief magistrate Irene Akankwasa on Friday.
The case was adjourned to May 9, when it would come for further hearing.