Kampala– The Anti-Corruption Division on Thursday, sentenced senior government officials; Opio Francis, Otike Pabious, and Ogwang Joel, to a maximum of four years imprisonment.
Their co accused Atoo Rebecca who was not employed by the Government, was sentenced to one year and 6 months’ imprisonment, for fraudulent acquisition and disposal of Lira District Land.
The sentence followed a successful conviction last week
on July 23, 2026, by the trial Chief Magistrate, His Worship Opit Christopher.
Before passing the sentence, court considered both the aggravating and mitigating factors which included that the convicts were first-time offenders, had shown remorse, and had family responsibilities.
However, court, on passing the sentence emphasized that the offences involved a breach of public trust and expressed that there is a need to deter similar acts and restore public confidence.
As per Section 46 of the Anti-Corruption Act, Cap. 116, the court disqualified Opio Francis, Otike Pabious, and Ogwang Joel from holding public office for 10 years from the date of conviction.
The successful prosecution of this case underscores the ODPP’s continued commitment to combating corruption, protecting public resources, and ensuring accountability for offences involving abuse of public trust.
The matter was prosecuted by
Gertrude Apio, Senior State Attorney under the Anti-Corruption Department of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP)
It was the Prosecution’s case that between February and August 2019, Lira District Local Government initiated the process of obtaining a certificate of title for its land located at Ireda Estate. During the titling process, Opio Francis, the then Lira District Staff Surveyor, and Otike Pabious, the then Natural Resources Officer for Lira District, deliberately excluded a portion of the district land from the survey.
With the assistance of Ogwang Joel, a Cartographer from the Ministry of Lands zonal office in Lira, they fraudulently procured a Freehold Certificate of Title on Plot 3-5 Ben Emor Road at Ireda Estates, over the excluded portion of land and got it registered in the names of Atoo Rebecca, a sister to Opio Francis.
After securing registration, Atoo Rebecca sold the land to Olam Pius, and all the accused persons participated in and witnessed this transaction.
