Vice Chairperson of Obongi District Jailed for Alleged Corruption in Job Scam.
By Atek Jolly Piloya
December 27, 2025 | OBONGI, UGANDA: The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Adjumani has ordered the imprisonment of Okuonzi Louis Drale, the Vice Chairperson of Obongi Districtlocal government, over a high-profile corruption case involving the alleged extortion of job seekers during a recent civil service recruitment exercise.
Drale, who has been mired in controversy following multiple allegations of graft, was sentenced to a 14-day remand at Openziz Prison in Adjumani District on December 9, 2025. The remand order followed his re-arrest by police and arraignment at the Adjumani Chief Magistrate’s Court. Authorities say preparations are underway to transfer him to the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala for further legal proceedings.
The case stems from a recruitment drive conducted earlier this year by the Obongi District Local Government, during which several people seeking civil servants jobs claim they were defraud of large sums of money in exchange for promised jobs. According to victims, district leaders, including Drale, allegedly solicited bribes ranging from five million to over 10 million Ugandan shillings per applicant.
“Some individuals paid millions of shillings under the false impression that their appointments were guaranteed,” said a source close to the investigation who proffered his name be witheld in this publication,“When no jobs were offered and their money was not refunded, they escalated the matter to law enforcement.”
Complainants have since filed formal reports with the Obongi Central Police Station (CPS), the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit. The investigations led to Drale’s initial arrest about a month ago. He was briefly released on police bond as inquiries continued, but was re-arrested after new evidence surfaced linking him directly to the scam.
The scam has sparked outrage among residents and civil society groups in the region, who are demanding accountability and systemic reform in local government recruitment processes.
“This is a betrayal of public trust,” said one civil servant who wished to remain anonymous. “People sold their assets and borrowed money to pay these bribes. Now they are left with nothing.”
Obongi, a newly created district curved from Moto district in Uganda’s West Nile region, has faced governance challenges since its inception. The arrest of one of its top officials underscores ongoing concerns about corruption in newly established administrative areas.
The Inspectorate of Government has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that additional suspects may be named. Authorities have urged other victims to come forward with evidence as the case unfolds.
As Drale awaits trial, the case serves as a reminder of the NRM government’s intensified crackdown on corruption, particularly in public service recruitment. The final outcome may set a precedent for accountability among local leaders across the country.
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