Oyam ACAO Arrested Over Alleged Extortion of Job Seeker
By Our Reporter
The Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (ACAO) of Oyam District, Mark Obangkwon, is in police custody following his arrest over allegations of extorting money from a job seeker.
Obangkwon reportedly lured a job applicant with promises of securing employment in exchange for UGX 2 million. He later demanded an initial deposit of UGX 600,000, but after negotiations, the amount was reduced to UGX 400,000.
The applicant reported the matter to police, who advised him to photocopy the banknotes as evidence. This led to Obangkwon’s arrest and taken to Oyam Central Police Station (CPS).
Further allegations indicate that Obangkwon obtained contact details of candidates who had recently attended job interviews. He allegedly contacted them, claiming that another recruitment exercise was imminent, and demanded up to UGX 10 million for their names to be considered.
The Oyam District Police Commander, Francis Okongo, confirmed the arrest but declined to provide further details, citing ongoing investigations.
Additional confirmation came from the Assistant Resident District Commissioner, Patrick Ocen Ebong, who stated that Obangkwon was arrested on March 30 for allegedly extorting money from a job seeker.
“He was picked yesterday for allegedly extorting money from job seekers, but more details will be provided later,” Ebong said.
He added that the victim had already delivered part of the requested money before police intervened.
Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga Police Public Relations Officer, had not yet issued a statement by the time of filing this report.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about corruption within Uganda’s District Service Commissions (DSCs).
Reports indicate that more than UGX 29 billion was paid in bribes between 2018 and 2022, with demands ranging from UGX 3 million for lower-level positions to over UGX 50 million for senior roles.
According to the Inspectorate of Government, an estimated UGX 78 billion has been solicited by DSC officials, with 35% of public servants admitting to paying bribes to secure employment.
- Most affected sectors: Education (UGX 36.9 billion in bribe requests) and Health (UGX 12.9 billion in actual payments)
- Most vulnerable stages: Shortlisting and interview processes
- Common practices: Forgery of minutes, tampering with academic documents, impersonation, and irregular inclusion of unqualified candidates
Key drivers of this corruption include low compensation for DSC members—some earning as little as UGX 140,000 in allowances—and political interference in recruitment processes.
President Yoweri Museveni has previously attributed corruption in public service to key administrative officials, including Permanent Secretaries, Chief Administrative Officers, Town Clerks, and Gombolola Chiefs.
He has pledged to intensify efforts to combat corruption in these offices, emphasizing accountability and enforcement.
