By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
On the 5th May 2022, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit arraigned before court the Lira City Planner for allegedly soliciting and receiving a bribe of Shs4 Million.
Omara Geoffrey, a City Physical Planner with Lira Municipal Council was yesterday remanded to Luzira Prison on charges of Corruption.
Omara’s woes however stemmed from greed and selfishness and here is how.
In 2015, Rehema Akello (the complainant) acquired land from Lira District on a lease that expired after 5 years. However, due to COVID-19 challenges, she was unable to file her lease extension application on time.
In June 2020, she submitted an application to the district for a lease extension. Omara Geoffrey, the Lira city planner, and Ogwal Philip, the Lira District Local Government’s Physical planner, both considered this a late submission.
The duo demanded Shs4 million from her, stating the money was needed to help the land board work on her file. She initially refused to pay, but after being persuaded by Omara for six months, she gave the money to him using mobile money on October 29, 2020.
Omara who received the money, never divided it with his partner Philip Ogwal, prompting Ogwal to call Akello and insist that she deliver him his portion. The two government agents’ constant harassment and extortion forced her to report the incident to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit on February 4, 2022.
Consequently the Unit kicked off investigations that led to Omara’s arrest yesterday.
His co-accused Ogwal Phillip, the Lira District Physical Planner has been summoned to appear before court and is still at large.
He was charged with corruption c/s 2(a) and 26 of the anti-corruption Act, 2009, and has been remanded to Luzira prison.
