NGORA, UGANDA – In a significant move against graft, two senior Ngora District officials and a private company manager have been arraigned in court and remanded to prison over the alleged misappropriation of billions of shillings earmarked for critical road infrastructure.
The suspects were yesterday brought before the Ngora Grade One Magistrates Court following a collaborative investigation by the Anti-Corruption Unit of State House, the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The accused are:
Opio Stanslas Francis, the Acting District Engineer for Ngora.
Okello Samuel, the Assistant Engineering Officer.
Oroni Herbert, Station Manager for Retta Solutions Uganda Ltd.
They face serious charges of theft and conspiracy to defraud the district local government. The court has ordered them remanded until May 5, 2026, as investigations into the broader scandal continue.
According to the prosecution, the trio, along with other individuals still at large, conspired between 2024 and March 2026 to steal fuel valued at over UGX 35 million. The fuel, property of the Ngora District Local Government, was falsely requisitioned under the pretence of being used for road construction and maintenance works within the district.
Investigations reveal that Okello Samuel, the Assistant Engineering Officer, repeatedly collected fuel from Retta Solutions Uganda Ltd without following proper procedures. He allegedly failed to sign for the deliveries and acted without the requisite authority from his superior, the Acting District Engineer.
Oroni Herbert, the station manager at the Retta Solutions (U) Limited, is accused of colluding with Okello by supplying the fuel for "purposes unknown to the authorities," effectively turning a public resource into private gain.
The alleged fuel theft is just the tip of the iceberg in a much larger scandal concerning the district's road fund. The investigation was triggered by complaints from community members and local stakeholders who grew suspicious over the glaring disparity between the funds received and the substandard quality of work visible on district roads.
Records show that during the Financial Years 2024-25 and 2025-26, Ngora District received a substantial sum of UGX 1.75 billion from the central government specifically for road construction and maintenance.
However, instead of these funds translating into improved infrastructure, many roads remain in a deplorable state, raising public outcry over suspected massive graft.
The charges also highlight a critical failure of leadership. Opio Stanslas Francis, in his capacity as the Acting District Engineer, was tasked with the direct supervision of the Assistant Engineering Officer and the entire road works portfolio.
The prosecution alleges that Opio "neglected his supervisory responsibilities," creating an environment where the misappropriation of fuel and other resources could thrive unchecked. His failure to provide oversight is cited as a key enabler of the conspiracy to defraud the district.
The remand of the officials signals the government's intensified resolve to combat corruption, particularly in local governments where the mismanagement of funds directly impedes development and service delivery. The public and stakeholders in Ngora await further developments as the case proceeds.
