Kampala, UGANDA – Four district officials from Ngora have been arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala and charged with causing government a financial loss of Shs1.7 billion through fictitious payments and abuse of office.
The accused appeared before Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro and denied charges of causing financial loss and conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009. Court remanded them as investigations continue.
Prosecution alleges that between January 2020 and August 2021, the officials, while serving in their respective offices, irregularly processed, verified, and approved payments for non-existent services and ghost beneficiaries. The transactions, prosecutors say, were disguised as gratuity, salary arrears, and road maintenance works but the money never reached intended recipients.
The charge sheet states that the group initiated and validated payments totaling Shs1.7b to private accounts and companies, knowing their actions would cause loss to government. Auditors later flagged the payments after beneficiaries could not be traced and works were not executed on the ground.
State Attorney Silas Ssenoga told court that inquiries are complete and the State will line up more than 80 witnesses, including district staff, auditors, and bank officials. He asked that trial be held in the affected district since most witnesses are based there.
The arrests follow a joint operation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate, and the Inspectorate of Government targeting payroll fraud and procurement abuse in local governments.
If convicted, each official faces up to 14 years in prison or a fine not exceeding Shs9.6m, or both. They return to court on May 5, 2026, for mention of the case.
The Ministry of Local Government has since interdicted the officials to pave way for prosecution. The case is one of several in which district staff are being pursued over ghost payments that the Auditor General says cost taxpayers billions annually.
