Amuru Town Clerk arrested for theft of planter

By Ivan Tolit

Police in Amuru District arrested  the Town Clerk of Atiak Town Council in connection with the  theft of a planter that went missing from the Town Council headquarter last week.

A planter is a farm implement, usually towed behind a tractor that sows (plants) seeds in rows throughout a field. It is connected to the tractor with a drawbar or a three-point hitch.

Ben Oluba, aged 46 was arrested on Monday afternoon at around 3; 00pm after the three planters were recovered from a scrap dealer identified as Brian Mafabi who was in the process of transporting it to Kampala as scrap.

Mafabi alleged that he bought the planter from the Town Clerk at 380,000 shillings.

The planters were donated to Atiak by the office of the Prime Minister in 2012 under the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF-3) to commercial Agriculture.

Kenneth Okot, the Local Council Three Chairperson Atiak Town Council confirmed the arrest adding that he has been transferred to Amuru Central Police Station on the charge of theft of government property.

David Ongom Mudong, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson also  confirmed the report saying police have intensified investigations into the matter.

He added his file has already been submitted to the Resident State Attorney, once it’s sanctioned, the suspect shall be arraigned in courts of Law.