Two Ngora District officials have been remanded to prison over the mismanagement of road funds.
The suspects are Stanslas Francis Opio, the Acting District Engineer, and Samuel Okello, the Assistant Engineering Officer. They were arrested together with Herbert Oroni, the Station Manager of Retta Solutions Uganda Ltd.
The three officials appeared before the Ngora Grade One Magistrate’s Court where they were charged with theft and conspiracy to defraud.
They were remanded until May 5, 2026
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), presented the suspects before the court.
The trio, together with others still at large, allegedly conspired to steal fuel worth over UGX 35 million belonging to Ngora District Local Government between 2024 and March 2026. They falsely claimed the fuel was intended for road works in the district.
Investigations indicate that in the financial year 2024/25 and 2025/26, Ngora District Local Government received UGX 1.75 billion for road construction and maintenance.
However, community members and stakeholders raised concerns that the funds had not been properly utilised, citing substandard works on several district roads.
According to SH-ACU and CID investigators, Okello frequently received fuel without signing for it and without the Acting District Engineer’s authorisation. He allegedly diverted the fuel for unknown purposes, in collusion with Oroni Herbert of Retta Solutions Uganda Ltd.
Further, Opio allegedly neglected his supervisory duties by failing to oversee the Assistant Engineering Officer, leading to the misappropriation of fuel for unrelated activities.
To improve service delivery, the Government of Uganda disburses road rehabilitation and maintenance grants to districts and municipalities.
State House Anti Corruption Unit recently launched broader investigations into the misuse of the one-billion-shilling road grant across several districts, following multiple complaints.
Since then, State House Anti Corruption Unit and Police have arrested district officials in Butambala, Mpigi, Arua, Kaabong, and Busia, among others, over theft of road funds.
