On the first count, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, whereas in the second count, he was sentenced to two years. Both sentences will run concurrently
Simanjiro. The District Court of Simanjiro has sentenced former District Executive Director (DED) Samwel Warioba Gunzar to 22 years in prison after he was convicted on two counts.
The counts are of abuse of office and disobedience of statutory duty in connection with the awarding of a livestock revenue collection tender.
On the first count, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, whereas in the second count, he was sentenced to two years. Both sentences will run concurrently.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, September 18, 2025, Principal Resident Magistrate Charles Uiso ruled that Warioba unlawfully appointed one Elias Lazaro Tipiliti to collect livestock product revenue at the Orkesumet market between February 17 and March 30, 2023, without following proper tendering procedures as required by law.
According to the prosecution, Mr Warioba, then serving under the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government, bypassed the Simanjiro District Council tender board and issued an appointment letter directly to Tipiliti.
Witnesses, including the chairperson and secretary of the tender board, testified that no such tender was advertised, discussed, or approved during the period in question.
The court heard that the accused ignored both written advice and procurement procedures outlined in the Public Procurement Act [Cap. 410 R.E. 2022] and its regulations.
A handwriting expert confirmed that the appointment letter bore the accused’s signature.
In his defence, Mr Warioba argued that the appointment was necessary to prevent revenue loss and that he acted under “single-source” procurement powers.
However, the court found that he failed to cite any legal provisions granting him such authority.
Magistrate Uiso held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, concluding that the accused abused his position under the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act [Cap. 329 R.E. 2022] and disobeyed a statutory duty contrary to section 123 of the Penal Code. Mr Warioba was accordingly convicted on both counts.
