State House Anti-Corruption Unit Probes Soroti University Officials

Soroti University officials are under probe by the State House Anti- Corruption Unit, over allegations of misappropriation and diversion of funds. 

The officials are Prof. Robert Ikoja Odongo, the University Vice-Chancellor, Lawrence Okema Deputy Vice-Chancellor, James Odongo Internal Auditor and Hudson Areeba Procurement officer.

Others are Samuel Omoding, the acting University Secretary, Justus Birimumaiso, Head of ICT, and Charles Okello assistant bursar.

Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema, the head of the unit during a visit to the university on Wednesday noted that there are allegations that 5.3 billion shillings for the supplementary budget was diverted for other activities.

Nakalema also alleges that the Internal Auditor and Assistant Bursar were each paid 46 million shillings for their trip to Morocco and yet it was not budgeted for.  

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Cue out… was misappropriated.”//   

Nakalema asked each of the officials to defend themselves in the University Hall where all the staffs had assembled.

Prof. Odongo denied knowledge about the allegations, saying that the funds were utilized appropriately and accounted for.  

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Otema said he has worked for 35 years in different Universities and had never stolen any funds. 

Cue in: “I had been …   

Cue out… there mansions.”// The officials were then later handed over to Barnabas Ndayisbimye, a police officer attached to Unit to record statements.