ARUA CITY GHETTO YOUTHS DEMAND INVESTIGATION INTO UGX 40 MILLION FUNDS MISMANAGEMENT

Arua City Ghetto Youths during Meeting with Arua City RCC at Arua City Council Hall (Photo: Onzoma Albert)

By Onzoma Albert

Arua City

The Arua City ghetto youths are demanding a formal investigation into the alleged misappropriation of UGX 40 million, provided by Maj Emma Kutesa under the Office of the Regional Internal Security Officer (RISO). The alleged funds were intended to organize a football tournament at Arua Primary School Play Grounds and mobilize support for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) during recent political campaigns. However, the youth claim they did not receive the full amount, and part of the UGX 40 million assigned for community activities was allegedly diverted, preventing the grassroots ghetto youths from getting their fair share.

Representatives from various ghetto zones, including Arua Central, Ayivu East, and Ayivu West, have sought intervention from the Arua City Resident City Commissioner (RCC) and called for involvement of anti-corruption advocates and the local government minister, Balaam Barugahara, to ensure accountability for the missing funds.

Manu Padlock, the Arua Central Division Ghetto Youth Chairman, highlighted the issue during a meeting with the RCC, urging her to investigate and hold those responsible accountable for the remaining UGX 28 million.

“We received 12 million as Arua City ghetto for organizing the football tournament for the ghetto youths, but the information reaching us is that the money supposed to be 40 million for organizing the tournament, but we only managed to receive 12 million now my question is received the meant for the Arua city ghetto youths and ate it” he said.

Arua RCC Rt Maj Betty Akello Otekat in pink dress, ARCC Matua Job Richard in black coat and Arua City Senior Commercial Officer in white during with Arua City Ghetto Youths (Photo: Onzoma Albert)

In response, RCC Rt Maj Betty Akello Otekat stated that the alleged mismanagement happened before she took office and assured she would follow up with the appropriate offices responsible who handled the funds.

“The truth of the matter is that I have a listening ear I can listen to your issues and call on board someone responsible and we seat and iron the issues raised, those are some of the challenges we needed to seat and discus and I have heard with my intelligence team I will try to dig about it” she said.

The money in question was allocated when the youth organized a football tournament coinciding with a campaign visit by NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu at Dorcus Inzikuru Stadium in Barifa.

The situation underscores concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of political funding and community grants within Arua City.