Anti-Corruption Unit Probes Officers for Alleged Brutal Arrest of Butebo CFO Kowa Mutekanga

The Anti-Corruption Unit of State House Uganda is on the spot following the alleged brutal arrest of the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) Butebo District, Kowa Mutekanga Simon.

On Friday, October 28, 2022, the unit in liaison with Uganda police arrested Kowa Mutekanga Simon for allegedly mismanaging government funds worth about Shs1bn meant for various projects and departments in the District.

The funds were for activities which include; Capitation grants, piggery, poultry, construction projects in various schools as well disbursement of funds to a ghost secondary school called Kanginima Secondary School.

Following his arrest, a viral video emerged claiming that the officers had reportedly beaten up and manhandled Kowa during the arrest.

On Saturday, the unit said its attention had been drawn to a video that is making rounds on social media, showing its officers apprehending Kowa who is under investigations for mismanagement of funds.

“At the end of the investigative visit to the District on 28th October 2022, Mr. Kowa was arrested but he jumped out of the vehicle and ran away prompting a chase for over 1km,” the unit explained.

CFO of Butebo district was arrested by the @AntiGraft_SH . But the manner in which he was treated- beaten yet he didn't resist arrest was unfair. This kind of humiliation is wrong. Today it's him, tomorrow it might be you. Let's learn to treat each other with dignity. pic.twitter.com/LOqxLCfwtS

— SUSAN KATAIKE (@sussiekats) October 30, 2022

According to the unit, officers caught up and re-arrested him amidst his resistance.

“It is unfortunate that in spite of the respect initially accorded to the suspect, he behaved the way he did. An investigation has been instituted to establish any wrong doing during the execution of the mission.”

On Thursday, the unit arraigned Ateng Francis, the former Principal Assistant Secretary, Lira MZO and three others on charges of Fraudulent Procurement of Certificate of title, forgery and uttering a false document on Uganda Railways Cooperation land in Lira.

The investigation followed a directive issued earlier this year by H.E the President to the Unit to investigate corruption related allegations at Uganda Railways Corporation.