Another 49 boxes of hand Hoes have been reported missing at Soroti City Council offices, according to Police.

The incident is suspected to have happened on 13th July, 2021, a few weeks after police recovered over 101 boxes of hand Hoes that had gone missing.

According to Ageca Oscar Gregory, Police of Soroti within East Kyoga regional Police have opened a general Inquiry file Number 15/2021 to investigate circumstances under which a consignment of NAADS Hoes amounting to 49 boxes valued at 11,760,000 which were meant to be distributed to beneficiaries went missing from stores at Soroti city council at finance block. 

“It should be noted that Soroti CPS has previously handled a case of theft of 101 boxes of  hoes at the same institution, which matter was fully investigated and the accused persons were arraigned before the courts of law and are currently being tried for the theft of the said hoes though the individuals are currently on bail,” said Ageca.

Ageca, while speaking to our reporter, said that, the scene has been visited by the DPC, D/CID, SOCO and a team of other detectives and the Boxes of hoes were re-counted with a view of establishing and confirming the allegations. 

He added that, the Soroty City Council employees have been summoned for statement recording including the guards to help with the investigation.

“It thus should be noted further that the case herein is not the same but rather that we have registered a different theft of the same batch of hoes which had not been distributed by the city authorities,” Added Ageca. 

He revealed that the whole first group appeared in court with three in remand for receiving stolen property pending their sentencing.

Robert Adiama Ekaju the Soroti City Commissioner condemned the actions of the officers and called for fresh actions for the affected staff.

Ambrose Ocen the Soroti City Town Clerk also bitterly expressed his disappointment with his junior staff and vowed to take serious action against his those found to have been involved in the theft.