Apac officials convicted in sh247m corruption case face moment of truth

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The Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court is today, October 2, 2025, expected to sentence five former Apac district officials who were convicted of causing a financial loss of shillings 247 million to the Government.

Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, while delivering judgment on September 30, 2025, stated that the prosecution had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the officials deliberately conspired to cause the loss. She rejected their defence that the money had been mistakenly sent to individual accounts as salary arrears, noting instead that the evidence pointed to deliberate collusion.

The convicts are: then-chief administrative officer Michael Wanje, then-chief finance officer Paul Ekwang, then-acting district education officer Sam Atim, then-senior accounts officer Patrick Ebong and Tom Adoko, the then-human resource officer.

The court observed that there was clear collusion among the convicts, which directly led to the financial loss to the Government.

Two of the convicts, Ebong and Ekwang, were also found guilty of money laundering under Section 3 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Evidence revealed that Ebong exploited the Electronic Funds Transfer system (EFTMIS) by depositing funds into staff accounts disguised as salary arrears, before recalling the money and directing that it be returned to the Chief Finance Officer.

Under the Anti-Corruption Act, the offence of causing financial loss attracts a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, while money laundering carries up to 15 years or a fine of sh2 billion.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Josephine Namatovu, urged the court to hand down tough jail terms of between seven and ten years, arguing that corruption in local governments continues to cripple service delivery.

On the other hand, defence lawyers Richard Rugambwa and Ben Ikilai asked the court to consider non-custodial sentences, pointing to the convicts’ poor health, old age, and the fact that many of them have dependents.

Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga is scheduled to deliver the sentences later today.