OPM Commissioner, Six Others Arrested Over Allegations Of Extortion
June 4, 2026
In a significant anti-corruption operation, the Inspectorate
of Government has arrested Mr. Patrick Okello, the Commissioner for Refugee
Management, together with five officers and a Pakistani national, over alleged
involvement in extortion during the registration of refugees.
The other affected officers include; Mr. Asiimwe Douglas,
Assistant Commissioner Refugee Management, Mugabe Geoffrey, Senior Settlement
Commandant, Ekwap Noel, Head Information Technology, Bweme Henry, Registration
Officer, and Nadiope Arnold, Refugee Status Interviewing Officer, and Mr. Zafar
Ahamad, a Pakistani.
The arrests underscore the government's continued efforts to
combat corruption and uphold integrity in public service delivery.
The suspects are expected to assist investigators as
inquiries into the alleged extortion network continue.
According to preliminary investigations, Mr. Zafar Ahmad is
alleged to have served as a broker linking OPM officials to refugees, playing a
central role in coordinating transactions that whistleblowers believe formed
part of the extortion scheme.
The arrests were preceded by a search operation conducted by
the IG investigators, during which critical documents were recovered to support
the ongoing investigations.
The suspects have since recorded statements as part of the
inquiry process, as investigators work to establish the full extent of the
alleged misconduct.