Youth leaders arrested over non-payment of YLP funds

By Michael Onyinge and Stephine Opio

Seven youth group leaders have been arrested on allegation of having failed to pay back government money worth sh21m under Youth livelihood programme in Dokolo district.

The youth leaders were arrested in an operation carried out by the Dokolo Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Susan Akany in three sub counties and Dokolo town council out of the ten sub counties and one town council that are in the district. The operation was carried out on Friday.

While at Dokolo Central Police Station, Akany said the operation was to recover the money which has been given to different youths in their groups under the financial year 2014/2015 and they took one year without paying it back

She said the defaulters were going to pay the money with penalty of 5% as it is in their guidelines and those who fail will be charged and taken to the court.

Akany said the youths were picked from their homes, trading centers and gardens. The suspects are from the different groups and each group has 10 to 15 members.

The District Police Commander (DPC) of Dokolo, Aminsi Kayondo Lukanga confirmed the arrest saying they include Wilbert Otim, Calvin Aloyo, Ambrose Ojuka, Geofrfrey Ocen, James Ocen, Ambrose Ojungo, and Fred Opio all from Dokolo.

The suspects recorded statements at police station as some of them claimed they were willing to pay back the money.