KAMPALA – Criminal investigations Directorate (CID) of Uganda has learned that the leaders of teachers’ SACCO embezzled teacher’s funds. The CID is now hunting for more than 70 teachers accused of swindling money released by the government for teacher’s Savings and Credit Cooperation Organisations – Saccos.
To boost the welfare of teachers following numerous strikes over poor pay, President Yoweri Museveni pledged to provide Shillings 25billion to support their Sacco’s across the country. Museveni made a personal donation of Shilling 2billion and directed the Finance Ministry to release Shillings 20billion.
In October last year, the Education and Sports Minister, Janet Museveni, said the government had finally released the money. Government asked teachers to enroll in existing Saccos or form new ones to access the money that would be channeled through Microfinance Support Center.
Now, the Criminal investigations Directorate has since established that more than 100 Saccos benefited from the money. Charles Twine, the CID Spokesperson, says that they have so far established that 42 Saccos did not deliver the money to the beneficiaries as it was shared by the leaders.
He says that they have so far arrested two suspects in Iganga and charged them with embezzlement.
CID has since sent detectives from the economic crime desk to gather relevant documents from the affected Saccos and ensure all the culprits are apprehended. It is alleged that the Sacco officials asked some teachers to pay a membership fee, which was never refunded.
CID has reportedly recorded more than 20 complaints from affected teachers. Police have urged all teachers affected teachers to come forward and record statements to aid the prosecution of the suspects. Each of the 42 Saccos under investigation had not less than 10 members.
This means over 400 teachers could have lost their membership fees. It is not yet clear how much money the Sacco officials embezzled.
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