Lira City Inspector of School(Omara Tom Ronald) Arrested Over Alleged UNEB Extortion.
BY OKIDI PATRICK OCAMOYITDYEL
Lira City –Lira City Education office is facing mounting criticism after senior inspector of schools has been arrested over financial indiscpline. The Uganda Police Force, in collaboration with the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), is investigating an alleged extortion scheme targeting headteachers of primary and secondary schools in Lira City.
The matter was first picked up through intelligence and formally registered at Ntinda Police Station. Investigations are being jointly conducted by the UNEB legal and investigations team and police detectives attached to UNEB.
On October 11, 2026, the UNEB investigative team travelled to Lira City and coordinated with territorial police at Lira City Central Police Station. Following an intelligence-led operation backed by Communication Data Records (CDR) analysis, technical tracking and field investigations, two principal suspects were arrested.
The suspects are:
1. Mr. Omara Tom Ronald, the Lira City Inspector of Schools.
2. Mr. Okot Ambrose alias Musinguzi William, 42, a businessman and resident of Ojama Village, Junior Quarters Ward, Lira City West Division.
According to preliminary investigations, the suspects allegedly conspired to extort millions of shillings from headteachers by falsely claiming that their schools had irregularities in the registration of private candidates for the forthcoming UNEB examinations.
Investigators say the scheme was executed in a coordinated manner.
First, the Inspector of Schools, Omara Tom Ronald, would reportedly contact a targeted headteacher and warn them that the Head of Legal at UNEB would soon call regarding alleged registration irregularities.
Shortly thereafter, Okot Ambrose, alias Musinguzi William, would contact the same headteacher, threatening severe administrative and legal consequences unless they cooperated directly with the Inspector of Schools.
Police say the threats were intended to intimidate headteachers into surrendering large sums of money to avoid purported sanctions.
Schools so far identified as having been targeted include Olaka Primary School, Bishop Tarantino Primary School (Bishop KAMI) and Lango College, among others. Investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of the scheme and identify more victims.
During questioning, Okot Ambrose reportedly admitted to participating in the alleged extortion scheme. He further stated that the SIM card registered in the name of Musinguzi William, which was allegedly used to make the threatening calls, had been provided to him by the Inspector of Schools, Omara Tom Ronald.
Investigators are now examining available evidence to establish the respective roles of the suspects and corroborate information obtained during interrogation.
Freedom City Bar, located in Junior Quarters, Lira City, and reportedly operated by Okot Ambrose, has also been identified as a location of interest in the ongoing inquiries.
Following their arrest, both suspects were processed and escorted to Kampala under police custody for further investigations and subsequent prosecution in coordination with the UNEB investigative team and Ntinda Police Station.
The Town Clerk of Lira City has been briefed on the developments, including the alleged involvement of a city staff member, for administrative action.
Investigations are ongoing, with efforts focused on identifying other headteachers who may have been targeted, recording additional statements, tracing alleged proceeds of the scheme and gathering further evidence.
The Uganda Police Force and UNEB have reiterated their commitment to protecting the integrity of national examinations and ensuring accountability for any criminal conduct that undermines the examination process.
Headteachers and members of the public who may have been approached, threatened or defrauded in connection with the alleged scheme have been encouraged to report to the nearest police station or UNEB office.
The suspects remain subject to the ongoing investigative and judicial process, and the allegations against them will be determined in accordance with the law.
A parent who spoke to this publication and wanted his name witheld, said Hon Balam should investigate the maaner in which the deployment of many headteachers who speak the same language with education Department directly under Omara Ronald’s supervision is being done.
He said one of the Headteachers of a government aided primary schools in Lira City West Division is busy threatening parents to pay PTA fees at 53,000 to his Bank account saying Minister Balam does not control payment in Lira City.The aggrived parent promised to” let the cat out of the bag” by exposing the identity of such a headteacher should Balam come to Lira City.
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