By Trisha Bigirwa
The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has arrested the Kibaale District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), John Kantotoroma, over allegations of illegally hiring out a government bulldozer worth about Shs600 million to a private company for personal gain.
Kantotoroma was reportedly arrested by detectives from the Inspectorate of Government’s Hoima Regional Office on Wednesday and taken to Kibaale Central Police Station alongside five other suspects.
The arrest followed a spot check in which investigators allegedly found the district bulldozer, registration number LG 0028-19, being used by Karukana Enterprises Ltd, a private company contracted by the government to construct the Kibaale District Internal Security Officer’s (DISO) office.
Paul De’souza Otiena, the Head of the Inspectorate of Government’s Hoima Regional Office, confirmed the arrests and said the bulldozer had been impounded as investigations continue.
According to Otiena, investigators established that the arrangement to hire out the government equipment allegedly involved the Chief Administrative Officer and the District Engineer, Chrizestom Bagire.
He said the actions were contrary to the laws and regulations governing the management and use of government property and that more district staff are under investigation.
Otiena said the bulldozer has since been impounded and is currently being kept at Kibaale Central Police Station as an exhibit. Albertine Region Police spokesperson Julius Hakiza confirmed that Kantotoroma was arrested, recorded a statement, and was later released on police bond
Hakiiza says the CAO has recorded a statement, and later was released on police bond while the other five individuals are still in detention pending investigations,
Police and the Inspectorate of Government say investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances under which the government equipment was allegedly hired out to a private contractor and whether more officials were involved.
