State House Anti-Corruption Unit Grills Soroti University Officials Over Missing Shs5.3b

By Spy Uganda

Soroti: The State House Anti- Corruption Unit has stormed Soroti University over allegations of misappropriation and diversion of funds equivalent to 5.3 Billion.

Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema, the head of the unit during a visit to the university on Wednesday October 2, noted that there are allegations that 5.3 billion shillings for the supplementary budget was diverted for other activities.

This money was meant for funding ICT in the university, staff salaries and procurement of equipment but was allegedly diverted by university leadership.

Among the sums diverted was Shs.160 million that was spent on legal fees and the balance was not accounted for.

The complaints received by the unit, further indicate that Shs.52,750,000 was misappropriated and spent on procurement of 23 mobile phones for Soroti university staff and yet all this was not included in the budget.

Nakalema also alleges that the Internal Auditor and Assistant Bursar were each paid 46 million shillings for their trip to Morocco and yet it was not budgeted for.

The officials under probe are Prof. Robert Ikoja Odongo, the University Vice-Chancellor, Lawrence Okema Deputy Vice-Chancellor, James Odongo Internal Auditor and Hudson Areeba Procurement officer.

Others are Samuel Omoding, the acting University Secretary, Justus Birimumaiso, Head of ICT, and Charles Okello assistant bursar.

Nakalema asked each of the officials to defend themselves in the University Hall where all the staffs had assembled.

Prof. Odongo denied knowledge about the allegations, saying that the funds were utilized appropriately and accounted for.

Otema said he has worked for 35 years in different Universities and had never stolen any funds.

The officials were then later handed over to Barnabas Ndayisbimye, a police officer attached to Unit to record statements.