Simon Peter Ogule, the clerk of Kakoro Town Council, has been suspended for six months following accusations of financial mismanagement and abuse of office related to decentralized development funds, local authorities have confirmed.
The suspension, outlined in a letter dated May 30 and signed by Emmanuel Awio on behalf of the Chief Administrative Officer, alleges that Ogule failed to account for funds from the Decentralized Development Equalization Grant (DDEG) allocated to the town council.
As part of the interdiction, Ogule is barred from accessing the council offices or conducting any official business on its behalf during the suspension period.
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The disciplinary action stems from an April meeting where Ogule reportedly pledged to repay the misused funds by April 11 but failed to do so. According to the letter, Ogule also requested road equipment for work scheduled between April 18 and 19, yet failed to show up when the district engineer was made available to support the effort. His actions were described as gross misconduct and negligence under the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders (2021).
Kakoro LC3 Chairperson Emmanuel Bumba told media that Ogule allegedly diverted Shs 4.5 million from a Shs 6.5 million DDEG budget for the 2024/25 financial year, meant for the construction of the 1.9-kilometer Zogono–Bumesula road. Bumba claimed the funds were used for Ogule’s personal business interests.
“He began to avoid work, prompting the district to step in,” Bumba added.
In his defense, Ogule admitted to borrowing Shs 4 million from the funds, saying he planned to reimburse it with a loan from Centenary Bank. However, his loan application was rejected because he had acted as a guarantor for someone who had defaulted.
This is not Ogule’s first brush with financial controversy. He previously faced similar issues while serving at Butebo Town Council.
The district has since ordered a full audit of Kakoro Town Council’s finances and is coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure proper accountability.
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