|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Six prominent members of the Zombo District Executive Committee (DEC) of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) have been apprehended on charges of allegedly misappropriating Ugx 47,150,000 intended for NRM youth flag bearers at the village level, in a scandal that has sparked outrage and threatens the ruling party’s image.
The 4,715 NRM youths are from 752 villages across the district.
The detained officials, identified by Zombo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Festus Ayikobua, include Oliver Cwinyaai Freeman (NRM Administrator for Zombo), Grace Thorach (District NRM Chairperson), Fred Okura (Vice Chairperson), Ringtho Boris (Secretary General), Sadiki Onencan (Publicity Secretary), and Obima Beatrice (Secretary for Finance).
According to the RDC, the leadership received Ugx 67,680,000 million for distribution to grassroots youth, but only disbursed Ugx 20,530,000, allegedly siphoning off the remaining UGX47,150,000 through corrupt practices.
The arrests followed mounting complaints from village-level NRM youth, who accused the Zombo NRM secretariat of withholding their funds. Some youths threatened to defect from the party if the issue remained unresolved, prompting swift intervention by the district security committee.
On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, RDC Ayikobua and DISO convened a meeting with the accused DEC members, sub-county leaders, and youth representatives at the district headquarters.
Preliminary investigations revealed a lack of credible documentation or justification for the missing funds, leading Ayikobua to order the immediate arrest of the six officials, who were subsequently detained at Paidha Central Police Station to record statements.
In a statement, RDC Ayikobua emphasized the severity of the allegations: “When the issue of this issue surfaced, we collaborated with the District Internal Security Officer (DISO) to summon the officials for clarification. Of the Ugx 67,680,000 allocated, only Ugx 20,530,000 was distributed, leaving Ugx 47,150,000 unaccounted for.”
He vowed that the officials would remain in custody until the misappropriated funds are recovered for the youth, underscoring a zero-tolerance stance on corruption. Ayikobua also urged the national NRM secretariat to overhaul the party’s leadership structure in Zombo to curb such illicit activities, which he warned could erode the party’s grassroots credibility.
The NRM has historically commanded over 80% of the vote in Zombo since 1996, making this scandal particularly damaging to its reputation.
Zeu Sub-County Councilor Roy Masendi condemned the implicated leaders, alleging that of the Ugx 6 million allocated for his constituency’s youth, only Ugx 2.3 million was disbursed. He labeled the DEC leadership as “corrupt and untrustworthy,” warning that such malfeasance undermines the party’s integrity ahead of the NRM primaries on July 17, 2025, and the 2026 general elections.
Youth Leaders Respond
District Youth Chairperson Amos Jacan called for vigilance in reporting such graft, expressing relief that the youth leadership was cleared of involvement,adding “The youths thought we were complicit, but thank God our name is now cleared.”
Princess Kristober and Rasul Kumakech Idris, Secretary General for NRM Youth, praised the security committee’s decisive action, expressing optimism that the affected youths would receive their funds.
District Youth Councilor and Youth League Treasurer Derick Ocweda Rwothungeyu hailed the arrests as a testament to the youth’s influence, stating, “This timely intervention demonstrates the power of the youth in holding leaders accountable.”
The scandal emerges at a critical juncture, with the NRM primaries looming and President Yoweri Museveni recently urging newly elected district chairpersons to uphold impartiality and shun corrupt practices.
The NRM DEC is tasked with advancing party policies, mobilizing grassroots support, and implementing political, economic, and social programs. However, this incident has cast a shadow over the party’s credibility in Zombo, with some members warning that unchecked corruption could alienate its loyal base.
As investigations continue, the detained officials face mounting pressure to account for the misappropriated funds, with the RDC and youth leaders demanding swift justice to restore trust in the party’s leadership.
