By Edward Anyoli

A Senior official from the National Forestry Authority (NFA) has been charged with abuse of office.

Lueben Arinaitwe, the NFA range manager, was yesterday charged at the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court and remanded to Luzira Prison.

Also charged with conspiracy was Charles Twagira, one of the shareholders of Beachside Development Services, an NGO.

Prosecution said in June 2006, Arinaitwe permitted Beachside Development to access NFA property at Kyewaga Forest Reserve to carry out illegal activities.

Twagira allegedly conspired with Damian Akankwasa, the suspended NFA director, and the legal officer, Molly Kyepaka, to defraud NFA. Twagira denied the charges.

Magistrate Francis Matenga granted him a cash bail of sh1m and directed him to deposit a title for land within Kampala and his passport in court. His three sureties were bonded at sh10m, not cash.

Matenga also summoned Akankwasa and Kyepaka to court on April 1 to answer the charges against them.