By Weswa Ronnie
SIRONKO
A Parish Chief and a SACCO Chairperson in Buchambi Sub County in Sironko district have been arrested by police after they allegedly attempted to run away with over Shs88M meant for 100 beneficiaries.
The duo, Ketty Nabuduwa, Buchambi Parish Chief and Richard Wafuma, the Buchambi SACCO chairperson was arrested on Tuesday, 15th October, 2024 from a hideout in Sironko Town Council at about 8:00PM.
It all started when Post Bank early this week wired money to the beneficiaries’ Mobile Money accounts.
The duo having got the information then called for a meeting with the beneficiaries on Monday morning and convinced them to release their PINs with the promise that they were going to Mbale City to withdraw the money for them and pay them in cash.
Godfrey Wandoba, the Buchambi Sub County NRM chairperson says that the suspects convinced the 100 beneficiaries that they were going Post Bank Mbale City to withdraw money using Wendi system.
Allan Wanambwa, the Sironko District Assistant RDC says that the beneficiaries however waited from 7am up to 8pm and the two were nowhere to be seen and all their phones were switched off.
He adds that the beneficiaries called him seeking assistance which prompted him to team up with police until they smoked the pair around Buchambi Sub County offices with over Shs88M hard cash and were taken to Masaba police station with money as exhibits.
Patrick Okore, the Sironko District Production Officer also doubling as district PDM focal person says that the two might have planned to escape with that money since they deliberately decided to get the PINs of beneficiaries which is illegal and decided to stay in town with phones switched off.
He says the good thing is that they arrested them with the money and it was later distributed to the beneficiaries the following day, Wednesday, 16th October 2024.
Frank Muzoora, the Sironko District Police Commander confirmed the arrest of the two saying they were released on Wednesday on police bond as investigations continue.
The duo however, told police that they were held up at the Bank and that is why they delayed to come back insisting that they had no intentions of running away with the money.
