The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has directed two civil servants formerly attached to Lira District Local Government to refund more than Shs 15 million that was irregularly paid to them—or face legal action.
The officials, Edmondton Acheka, who served as Assistant District Health Officer, and Luciano Ondongorik, a former Education Assistant, have been given a 60-day deadline to return the money.
According to a report from the IG’s Lira Regional Office, between April 2015 and September 2016, Acheka accumulated salary arrears amounting to Shs 24.4 million. In August 2021, he was paid Shs 20.4 million, but the district failed to deduct PAYE tax worth over Shs 6 million, violating Uganda’s tax regulations.
Luciano Ondongorik, who had been off the government payroll since 2008, received over Shs 32 million in salary arrears for the period from July 2008 to May 2016. This payment, also made in August 2021, came without PAYE deductions amounting to nearly Shs 10 million.
In a letter signed by Deputy Inspector General of Government Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, both officials have been ordered to refund the total Shs 15.7 million in unpaid taxes into the IG’s Asset Recovery Account at Bank of Uganda within 60 days.
Failure to comply will result in prosecution.
