Authorities in Tororo District have launched a forensic investigation into how the municipal council spent more than UGX 1 billion allocated for road works in the last financial year.
The decision followed the arrest earlier this week of Town Clerk Moses Lorika and Municipal Engineer Francis Okema. The two, later released on bond, are facing allegations of fraud and conspiracy after council reports showed that several roads marked as completed were either in poor condition or did not exist.
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During a spot inspection led by Tororo District Woman MP Sarah Achieng Opendi, members of the district roads committee found major discrepancies. Ms Opendi said many of the roads appeared only in council reports but showed no evidence of work on the ground. She also criticised officials for altering the approved work plan just weeks before the close of the financial year.
Among the examples cited was Sam Opoya Road in Kasoli Parish, which was listed as rehabilitated at a cost of UGX 8 million but remained untouched. Another case involved the replacement of Station Road with Hospital Clause, undermining priority projects. Even where works had been carried out, poor drainage management left roads vulnerable to erosion, wiping out repairs.
Resident District Commissioner Sadiq Bategana said an audit of the UGX 1 billion fund showed that more than half of the money could not be accounted for. He urged police to fast-track charges against the officials.
Molly Cherya, the district secretary for works and technical services, called for a full inquiry and insisted that unspent funds should have been returned to the treasury. She accused municipal staff of conspiring to falsify progress reports and pledged to cooperate with investigators.
The roads committee has since declined to approve Tororo Municipal Council’s 2025/26 work plan until last year’s funds are fully accounted for. Both police and district leaders have promised a thorough investigation, warning that those responsible will face prosecution.
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