Headteacher Arrested for Stealing School Iron Sheets

Police in Pader is holding the head teacher of Tumalyec Primary School in Laguti Sub County over the alleged theft of the school’s iron sheets. The suspect identified as David Oyaro and an accomplice, Okello Katerega, are both held at Laguti police outpost for the alleged theft of 11 pieces of school iron sheets.

The Laguti Sub County incoming Chairperson Christopher Mwaka says that the theft happened on  Sunday night when unknown personnel opened the school stores and swiftly transported the iron sheets to Laguti Trading Centre.

The suspects were apprehended on Monday following a tip-off from residents who acted on suspicion when people purported to be thieves were seen the previous night ferrying iron sheets from the school. Upon inquiries, it was discovered that the padlock to the school store had no sign of breakage yet the keys were always in the head teacher's possession.

It was later discovered that the same iron sheets were in a shop belonging to Kateregga. However, he told the police that they were sold to him by the school headteacher. The stolen items were part of 100 iron sheets that were reportedly procured by the sub-county for renovating a classroom block whose roofs were blown off due to erratic strong winds and rains in 2016.

Luo //Cue in; “headteacher me…

Cue out….primary school.”//

The headteacher denied the theft claims saying the iron sheets were part of the items that were recently placed for disposal under the recommendations of the School Management Committee.

However, the Chairperson of the School Management Committee Richard Oyoo refuted the head teachers’ confessions saying that the institution’s authorities had never convened any meeting in regards to the purported disposal of school property.  Oyoo instead implicated the suspect for engaging in fraudulent practices citing a recent allegation where he reportedly sold bricks and sand that had been solicited from parents to construct teachers’ houses to a local contractor.

Luo //Cue in; “Lapwony eni ni…

Cue out…odong kenyu.”//

Pader District Education Officer Francis Olwoch revealed that his office was not yet aware of that incident. He, however, condemned the incident saying it’s contravenes the professional code of the conducts and ethics, and is divergent to the public service standing orders.

A police source that preferred anonymity says that a criminal file case has been opened and upon conclusion of investigations, the suspects will be charged with theft and abuse of office.