The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has brought charges against Ben Ogwette Otim, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Lira District. The CAO, aged 59, stands accused of abuse of office and corruption, marking a serious blow to local governance.
During the court proceedings, Chief Magistrate Moses Nabende formally presented the charges against Otim, who vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Prosecution representative David Mugamba informed the court that investigations into the case had been completed, requesting a hearing date.
Emmanuel Wamimbi, leading Otim’s defense team, applied for bail, citing his client’s recent arrest and health condition, specifically mentioning a heart attack. However, the Chief Magistrate rejected the bail application, ordering Otim’s remand until May 18 for further consideration.
According to the prosecution, Otim, while serving as the CAO of Lira District Local Government, abused his authority by deliberately withholding crucial information from the District Land Board and relevant authorities. This information pertained to letters received from the Local Government permanent secretary, which had ordered the suspension of all land transactions within the jurisdiction of Lira City until a government decision on property distribution was made.
The creation of Lira City from Lira District Local Government resulted in a dispute over the allocation of assets, including land, between the two entities. Despite receiving guidance on the matter, Otim allegedly failed to communicate the directives to the district land board, thereby allowing fraudulent disposal of public land in collusion with district officials.
The affected land, comprising essential government infrastructure such as schools, railways, hospitals, and green spaces, now faces potential destruction due to the alleged misconduct of the Chief Administrative Officer.
The creation of Lira City was approved by the Cabinet in May 2019, with the Ministry of Local Government providing guidance on the transition process. However, the ongoing investigation into Otim’s alleged corruption highlights the challenges and potential risks associated with such transformations.
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