Police in Jinja are holding a man who allegedly swindled money meant to pay agents who were protecting President Yoweri Museveni’s vote during the January 14 general elections.
Mr George Kintu who was charged with delivering cash to Busoga region from the NRM’s Office of the National Chairman, has been arrested and detained at Nalufenya police station, for stealing money meant for agents.
Mr Kintu who works with the Office of National Chairman was found with an exhibit of sh25 million out of over sh100 million of undelivered money, leaving some party agents in the region complaining.
The matter of agents complaining of not being paid was raised by Karamoja minister Moses Kizige during a cabinet meeting.
ONC moved to issue an arrest warrant for two of its officers who were charged with payments in Busoga. Kintu’s accomplice, Ms Norah Bamutaze, is still on the run, and police are hunting for her to recover over sh60 million she allegedly swindled.
Ms Bamutaze signed the money for vote protection for Busoga region, however, she allegedly stole some money and only delivered some of the cash before she disappeared. She has not reported to work since.
Watchdog website spoke to Ms Bamutaze via telephone and denied any wrongdoing. She said she delivered the money to Mr Kintu, and was only assigned to deliver money in Buyende and Kamuli districts.
However, reports indicate that Kamuli NRM poll agents have been complaining about nonpayment, saying Bamutaze only made half payments.
Speaking to ONC administrator, Mr Faruk Kirunda, admitted that some of the officers in his office did not follow guidelines and that is why arrests are ongoing.
“Police have arrested one, but are looking for others,” he noted.
Mr Kirunda said vote protection work went on well, despite a few glitches which are being fixed. He however said that NRM was able to deploy poll agents at all polling stations and that is why he has secured all original DR forms.
“We have all DR forms in our custody which means we carried on the work as assigned. However, we had some issues in some 12 districts whereby some officials who were given money to deliver to particular districts, failed to execute the work as assigned. Among districts which were affected include: Wakiso, Rukungiri, Gomba, Butambala, Sironko, Ngora among others, where money has been recovered and the process is underway to pay everyone,” Mr Kirunda added.
He however called upon officers who misused the money of the party to return it immediately before they are arrested.
“Our aim is not arrests, but we want the party money to be delivered to the people who did the work,” Kirunda said, adding, “We still have some seven people who have not been paid.”
Kirunda said if the officers return the money, no charges will be preferred against them. He also apologized for not deploying many people to protect Museveni’s votes because of the Electoral Commission and Ministry of Health Covid-19 guidelines which barred many people convening at polling stations. He said, at least one person was deployed at each polling station across the country.
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