By Osuta Yusuf
Obongi District– Residents of Obongi District and the wider West Nile region are in disbelief following the mysterious disappearance of a Fuso truck, registration number UBE 112M, which had been impounded along with 125 sacks of charcoal. The vehicle vanished from Obongi Central Police Station overnight.
According to documents obtained, a court order issued on August 7, 2024, in the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Moyo authorized the auctioning of the charcoal. However, the process— including the court order, auction, and the disappearance of the truck— occurred on the same day, which raises concerns of procedural irregularities under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) Act.
Samuel Hishaka, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Obongi, expressed his frustration, criticizing UNRA officials at the landing site for permitting the ferry to transport the truck without proper impoundment. Hishaka estimated the number of charcoal sacks to be 200, suggesting the court’s figure of 125 was understated. He described a dramatic incident where he blocked the truck’s departure with his official vehicle after noticing it leaving the police station. The OC CID intervened with a court order and auction documentation all in one day, which Hishaka deemed fraudulent. During this confrontation, the truck driver reportedly threatened to ram Hishaka’s car, prompting him to call the District Police Commander (DPC) for assistance. The truck was subsequently returned to the Central Police Station, only to vanish later that night.
When contacted for a comment, OC CID for Obongi Central Police Station, Ishiko, denied any wrongdoing, stating that after the court order was issued, the truck and charcoal were handed over to the Obongi District Forest Officer, Mr. Rongumu Tayiri, who was responsible for the auctioning process. Ishiko claimed that the police were no longer involved once the handover was complete.
Mr. Tayiri Matovu Rongumu declined to comment when reached by phone, stating that any further inquiries should be directed to the Obongi District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
Additional information revealed that the 125 sacks of charcoal were auctioned for 1,200,000 Shillings to Mandera Josephine. A receipt issued by the Obongi District Local Government Forestry Department acknowledged the transaction. This sale appears to contradict the court order, which specified that auction proceeds should be deposited into the consolidated funds.
The circumstances surrounding the auction and the disappearance of the truck remain unclear, fueling public concerns over transparency and legal compliance.