The Soroti Resident District Commission Filbert Ocailap, has been suspended for alleged misconduct. In a May 29th letter, Deborah Katuramu, the Secretary to the Office of the President, asks Ocailap to immediately hand over office to Isaac Kawoya, the former RDC pending investigation into allegations of misconduct against him.
According to Katuramu, the conduct of the RDC contravenes the Public Service standing order section F-s paragraph (a) and (b). Ocailap has confirmed receiving the letter asking him to handover office effective immediately.
The suspension stems from a petition by the management of Soroti University management accusing the RDC of aiding, interfering or causing conflict in regards to land conflict between the university and local community. Last week, Ocailap ordered the arrest of Ruth Achimo, Soroti University secretary accusing her of illegally evicting more than 60 residents sitting the disputed 10 acre piece of land in Aputon village in Arapai Sub County.
On Friday, Achimo and a section of University management held a lengthy meeting with the first lady and Education Minister, Janet Museveni and pleaded with her to intervene in the land wrangles between the university and residents.
Shortly, after the meeting, Achimo told journalists that the first lady was bitter with what had happened and pledged to handle the crisis to enable the Science based University to open by August, 2017 for its first intake. The land dispute between the residents and Soroti University is before Soroti Magistrate's court.
Last year, court stayed the eviction of the residents and developments on the disputed land until the matter is resolved. Since then, unspecified number residents have been compensated and opted to quit the land leaving about 17 families, according to Achimo.
Tension escalated last week after the university attempted to evict about 60 residents from the disputed land. Police have since arrested five people for conducting the illegal eviction. The Soroti University Secretary, Ruth Achimo is yet to record a statement over the incident at Soroti Central Police Station.
