By Andrew Irumba
Pius Epaju, the former Amolatar district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) was on Monday arrested in Kaberamaido district by Police, where he was hiding.
Epaju has been in hiding since March last year when investigations initiated by the State House Anti Corruption Unit led to his being charged in Court with abuse of office and corruption.
Epaju’s was sent on forced leave last year by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of local government, Ben Kumumanya, over corruption. This followed a petition from the local leaders protesting alleged embezzlement of over Shs1.5Bn.
Following the alleged embezzlement, local leaders petitioned President Yoweri Museveni to intervene in the matter and he dispatched Lt.Col. Edith Nakalema’s Anti Corruption Unit to investigate the matter.
The petitioners include 13 LC V Councillors, five LC III Chairpersons, the Kyoga County Member of Parliament Anthony Okello and Woman MP, Doreen Amule.
Geoffrey Ocen, the lead petitioner who is also the former Amolatar LC V Vice Chairperson was so excited about Epaju’s forced leave and said he should still be investigated.
Ocen said Epaju’s forced leave only answered part of their concerns urging that the embezzled funds should be recovered.
However, since then Epaju had gone into hiding until Monday when he was arrested by police.
