Panic in Obongi as Minister Balam Barugahara vows to return to Obongi to crackdown on corrupt officials.
By Our Reporter
OBONGI DISTRICT: Panic has gripped Obongi Town Council after the Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Balam Barugahara, vowed to return to the district to deal with officials accused of corruption and embezzlement of billions of shillings in government funds.
The Minister made the pledge on Sunday while meeting residents at Obongi Landing Site. He was en route from Moyo District, where he had ordered the arrest of several officials implicated in corruption.
Town Clerk accused of Shs900M road scandal:
Residents petitioned Minister Barugahara to arrest and investigate the Obongi Town Council Town Clerk, Makosa Saidi Sebbi, over alleged mismanagement of government programs.
They accused Mr. Sebbi of being behind a Shs900 million scandal meant for the tarmacking of a road in Obongi Town Council — a project residents say was never completed and was poorly done in a shoddy manner.
Other corruption cases were also cited against the town clerk.Other said ghost fish pond project have not been concluded.
According to residents, Mr. Sebbi went missing and switched off his phone immediately after reports of the Minister’s visit circulated.
“We are asking the Minister to arrest Makosa Saidi Sebbi for corruption and embezzlement of billions of shillings meant for government funded programs,” one resident told the Minister.
“I am coming back to deal with corrupt officials”said Balam.
In response, Minister Barugahara thanked residents for being bold in exposing graft and assured them of government action.
“I am coming back to Obongi to deal with all corrupt officials. We shall not allow public money to be stolen,” the Minister said.
He commended the residents for speaking out and urged them to continue providing information to help government fight corruption at the local level.
The Minister’s visit comes amid growing public concern over accountability in service delivery in West Nile, with government recently stepping up arrests and investigations of local government officials.
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