By Andrew Irumba
The deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Lokoli Oulanyah has ordered prime mister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda to investigate allegations that over Shs35Bn was stolen from the Uganda Police savings entity called Exodus SACCO.
Oulanyah passed the directive on Thursday when Rugunda has appeared before parliament to answer queries about the same matter.
The Speaker tasked Rugunda to explain allegations that the said money, which had been saved by thousands of policemen and women working under the Uganda Police Force, disappeared and cannot be accounted for.
He also tasked Rugunda investigate allegations that the missing Shs35Bn was withdrawn by senior police officers who shared it among themselves and have since never refunded a coin to the SACCO, which has empty coffers currently.
However, in his reply, Rugunda admitted that indeed the allegations of the missing money from Exodus SACCO are in existence and promised parliament to avail a report as soon as he completes an investigation into he matter.
Oulanya’s directive came after severl police officers who saved money in the Police Exodus Sacco lost patience after failing to withdraw their savings.
They have asked Inspector General of Police Martins Okoth Ochola and the Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives to investigate the matter but they did not get any redress there, hence running to parliament.
A few days ago there was a scuffle at Police Exodus Sacco headquarters at Naguru, Kampala as thousands of police officers from all over the country lined up to make transactions.
The Police Exodus Sacco, which was started in 2007, has not held an annual general meeting or changed leadership in more than two years.
All police officers are members of Police Exodus Sacco and contribute to it by compulsion.
Mid last year, IGP Ochola halted members of the Police force from accessing loans and savings from Exodus SACCO until a forensic report is given on how funds have been handled by the SACCO managers.
