MPs order arrest of Sacco manager

Vice chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on National Economy Evelyn Kabuule addresses members of Kirika Sacco last week. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER KIRUNDA 

In Summary

Background. The legislators were in eastern region to assess the progress made by government- aided Saccos in the region.

KIBUKU. Police in Budaka District have arrested the former manager of Kilika Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (Sacco), Mr Ziddy Mukama, on the orders of the Parliamentary Committee on the National Economy.
Members of the committee directed Mr Mukama’s arrest last Tuesday after Sacco members accused him of embezzling their savings totalling Shs70 million.

Mr Mukama is also accused of grabbing some of the Sacco’s property.
“Besides stealing our money, he also confiscated the Sacco’s land title and keys for the safe and refused to return them despite our numerous appeals to him,” one of the Sacco members told the MPs who were in the region to assess the progress made by government- aided Saccos in the region.

The Sacco members also revealed that Mr Mukama had been playing hide and seek with them and only accepted to turn up at the cooperative’s premises after he was duped that external auditors were to review the Sacco’s financial accounts which would exonerate him of any wrongdoing and subsequently lead to his reinstatement on the job.
The MPs led by the committee chairperson, Ms Jovia Kyomya, then ordered the Parliamentary Police, who were accompanying them, to arrest Mr Mukama, who they ordered into their Coaster minibus before taking him to Kilika Police Station.
Prior to recording a statement, Mr Mukama told the MPs that he had done no wrong.

“I didn’t steal any money. I only went with those items (land title and keys) because I was dismissed before the expiry of my contract and I needed to have something that would compel the Sacco to pay me my benefits,” he said.
The district police commander, Mr Godfrey Achiria, said Mr Mukama had been hiding from the law for more than six months.
“We finally have him and we are holding him as investigations into embezzlement and abuse of office continue,” Mr Achiria said.

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