Police in Arua have arrested Joakim Andiandu, the Arua District Environmental officer for allegedly mismanaging 20 million Shillings meant for a community project under the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP).
Andiandu who is also the Arua district desk officer for the project was picked up alongside Owen Onzima, a community facilitator.
It is alleged that on December 27, 2023, the two allegedly connived to withdraw 41 million shillings meant for Ombamba village Savings Group Tree planting project under DRDIP in Ajia sub-county but only managed to give 21 million shillings to the group members.
Josephine Angucia, the West Nile Region Police Spokesperson says that the matter was reported to police by the group members after they failed to receive the balance of 20 million shillings.
According to Angucia a charge of theft of money has been preferred against the suspects and their files have already been forwarded to the Resident State attorney Arua.
This is not the first time funds meant for government projects have been misused in the district. In 2018, the then Arua district NUSAF Desk Officer, Paul Edobo allegedly withdrew more than 500 million shillings meant for paying over 50 suppliers and he is still at large.
The Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP) is a World Bank-funded Project implemented by the office of the Prime Minister. The Project seeks to address unmet social, economic, and environmental needs in local refugee-hosting communities.
It also focuses on addressing the impacts of the protracted presence of refugees on the host communities in the 15 refugee hosting communities.
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