IWPR Fraud Probe Prompts Demonstration
IWPR Fraud Probe Prompts Demonstration
In early August, an IWPR special investigation into suspected corruption relating to a long-running reconstruction project in war-torn northern Uganda sparked a demonstration in the town of Lira.
On August 23, over 200 people came together to protest the alleged misappropriation of money from the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund, NUSAF – a government agency responsible for managing projects to rebuild the north.
“Demonstrators felt the reports published on IWPR website on rebuilding the war-ravaged region of northern Uganda were factual and accurate,”
Joe Erem Oyie, Lira district information officer
The fraud allegations, which had already prompted a criminal investigation, were the subject of the IWPR story, Northern Aid Programme Probed, written by Bill Oketch and Patrick Okino in Lira, and published on August 13. The project has since published two follow-up stories.
Demonstrators called for Lira district chairman Franco Ojur to be sacked. Police suspect the official of involvement in one of the cases under investigation. He denies the allegations.
Lira district information officer Joe Erem Oyie said demonstrators acted after hearing about IWPR’s stories.
“Demonstrators felt the reports published on IWPR website on rebuilding the war-ravaged region of northern Uganda were factual and accurate,” said Oyie.
Okino said Lira resident district commissioner Joan Pacoto told him that the IWPR corruption stories had helped in the fraud investigation.
NUSAF distributed mainly World Bank money to pay for the redevelopment of the north of the country following a 20-year civil war between Kampala and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army, LRA.
Hundreds of local community projects requested support, and selected their own local project leaders.
Some 24 suspects have been arrested in Lira, including Ojur, and others in Gulu.
The World Bank sent a copy of IWPR’s first report on the fraud allegations to investigators of the Inspector General of Government, IGG – a government agency tasked with eliminating corruption and abuse of office. IGG officials immediately launched an inquiry based on the article.
