The authorities in Pader district are currently probing the actions of the individual in charge of Atanga Health Center III over allegations of diverting maize flour intended for 42 children afflicted by nodding syndrome in Lapul Sub-County.
The sequence of events began on August 10, 2023, when the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Pader District drafted a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), seeking relief food for families grappling with nodding syndrome within the district.
In response to this plea, the OPM dispatched a consignment of 20,000 kilograms of maize flour on September 18th, accompanied by strict directives that the distribution should be exclusively earmarked for families and individuals affected by nodding syndrome.
A document dated October 13th, authored by the District Health Officer, confirming the receipt of the maize flour, indicated that 100 kilograms were designated for greater Acholibur, 3,500 kilograms for Angagura sub-county, 5,500 for Greater Atanga, 7,500 for Greater Awere, 2,200 for greater Laguti, 2,500 for greater Puranga, 300 for Pader Sub-County, 500 kilograms for Lapul, and 150 kilograms for Bongtiko Sub-County.
However, a discrepancy emerged on October 16th when Bosco Peter Ali, the LC III of Lapul Sub-County, claimed that Samson Ocaya, the individual in charge of Atanga HC III, had transported only 350 kilograms of maize flour to Lapul Health Center III, falling short of the allocated 500 kilograms.
Ocaya alleged that he had delivered the missing 150 kilograms to Bongtiko sub-county. However, the LCIII of Bongotiko refuted this, stating that the 150 kilograms they received were indeed intended for them.
In a letter penned on October 22nd, Ali brought this irregularity to the attention of the RDC of Pader District, Milton Odongo. He urged the RDC’s office to investigate the whereabouts of the missing 150 kilograms of maize flour.
Ali also mentioned that the 350 kilograms of maize flour had already been distributed to the beneficiaries to prevent spoilage but requested that authorities trace the missing allocation.
Subsequently, on October 25th, Odongo wrote to the District Police Commander, instructing them to investigate the matter and apprehend the suspects. He emphasized the vulnerability of the 42 affected children, highlighting that the 350 kilograms of maize flour would not be adequate to sustain them.
Odongo cited that the suspect had allegedly confessed to an anonymous source about the diversion, and the suspect’s wife had inadvertently admitted to someone that the maize flour her husband had brought home was insufficient.
The police were preparing to interview the suspect to obtain an official statement regarding the allegations. Abrahams Tukundane, the DPC of Pader district, confirmed the initiation of investigations into the case.
Efforts to reach the suspect, Samson Ocaya, for his comments proved unsuccessful, as he did not answer his phone.
Data from the district indicated that there were at least 1,548 households with children afflicted by nodding syndrome, with some households having more than one affected individual.