The Anti-Corruption Unit of State House Uganda has arrested the Bukedea district Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Wilberforce Tukei, and the District Police Commander (DPC), SP Charles Okoto.
This follows intensive investigations into reported criminal activities in the recent LC V Chairperson by-elections in Bukedea District.
The pair was arrested for failing to act on, among others, rampant acts of intimidation and assault of some candidates, polling agents, journalists and voters.
“These incidents occurred before, during and after elections. As Head of the District Security Committee, the RDC plays oversight role of Govt activities/programs in the district,” the unit said on Monday.
The RDC coordinates all other Government departmental Heads and engages in any emergency that has come up.
At election time, the RDC coordinates and ensures a smooth transition in election time which did not happen in this case.
So far, 8 people have been arrested including; the RDC Bukedea Wilberforce Tukei, SP Charles Okoto, D/ASP Ehguloiti Alex, PC Akankwasa Onesmus, PC Oriokot Simon Peter, PC Kamakoin Difas PC Born Naibei and Councillor Malinga Dan.
On July 7, the unit arraigned Malinga Dan, a Bukedea Town Councillor, before the Magistrate Court of Bukedea.
He allegedly mobilized and led the goons who assaulted and robbed one of the aspirants for the LCV chairperson by-election, Omagor Steven.
The assault occurred on June 6, 2023, when the aforementioned aspirant approached the electoral commission’s gate at Bukedea to present himself for nomination as a candidate for the by-election.
The assault was intended to prevent his nomination for the position.
This action followed a directive by His Excellency the President to the Head of the unit to investigate the criminal activities committed during the by-election.
He was remanded until July 26, 2023.
On July 5, the unit in liaison with Regional Police, Kyoga East, also arraigned and charged five police officers attached to Bukedea before the Magistrates Court of Bukedea.
The officers were charged with Aggravated Robbery and remanded till July 27, 2023.
The officers are: D/ASP Ehguloiti Alex, PC Akankwasa Onesmus, D/C Oriokot Simon Peter, PC Kamakoin Difas &PC Born Naibei.
It is alleged that on the night of 4/06/23 the accused armed with SMG guns, broke into the house of Agume Alfred, a campaign agent of candidate Omagor Steven.
Their intention was to steal Omagor’s Electoral documents and other property in order to bar him from being nominated in the recently concluded LCV by-elections in Bukedea district.
During the investigations, it was also established that D/ASP Ehguloiti had other Police files.
The files are related to other similar acts done during the 2021 elections.
These files were processed and the suspect D/ASP Ehguloiti was charged with murder and aggravated torture of two suspects in police custody, who later succumbed to injuries.
