Story by Osuta Yusuf.
Maracha District.2-November-2024.
The LC3 Chairperson for Awiziru Sub-county, Hon Saul Abiriga has been released from Police custody after paying back the 900,000 Shs he took from a disabled 75-Years-Old Mzee Andrua Simon, a PDM beneficiary in his Sub-county.
In 2022, LC3 Chairperson Hon Saul Abiriga went to the home of Mzee Andrua Simon to convince him to be registered into Magoba Enterprise Sacco group in order to benefit from the Parish Development Model money, which the Mzee accepted and the LC3 Chairperson took him through all the nitty gritties of PDM and days later he rode with the disabled Mzee to the bank in Arua City to withdraw 900,000 Shs which he took all without giving it or part of it to the beneficiary, Andrua.
Charged for Theft, under case file number MAR CRB: 271 / 2024, Hon Saul Abiriga whom the security officials in the district said he was very elusive, was finally arrested on Wednesday 30-10-2024 and released on Thursday 31-October-2024 after confessing about taking the 900,000 Shs from a PDM beneficiary, Andrua Simon in Otravu Village, Oluvu Parish in Awiziru Sub-county, Maracha Constituency, Maracha District.
Upon confirming the money had been paid back to him by the LC3 Chairperson Hon Saul Abiriga, the complainant Andrua Simon was tasked at Maracha District police station to make an additional statement to withdraw the case, which he did and Hon Saul is now a freeman in regards to that scandal.
After so many months of attempts to get Justice but all in vain until the Media took over the matter to be exposed, Mzee Andrua Simon thanked the Journalists for reporting the matter in news which attracted the attention of the general public, government departments and officials as it eventually pushed the LC3 to pay all his money (900,000 Shs).
Maracha District Police Commander, SP Joshua Kananura who said he counseled Hon Saul Abiriga over the matter hinted that what the LC3 Chairperson for Awiziru Sub-county went through should be an eye opener and a lesson for the rest of the public servants.
While affirming that, the LC3 Chairperson for Awiziru Sub-county Hon Saul Abiriga has finally paid all the 900,000 Shs he took from the disabled Mzee Andrua, Mr Collins Dramani, the Assistant RDC for Maracha District said they are not only going to stop at him but to continue with following and arresting anyone who embezzles or extorts money from Parish Development Model beneficiaries in Maracha District.
He warned some members of the public against frustrating their work by politicizing the fight against corruption.
