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Bunyangabu officials remanded over alleged abuse of office
Emoral said the accused had been brought to court unexpectedly and were also unwell. He therefore requested a short adjournment to allow the defence to prepare the documents required for the bail application.
Bunyangabu officials remanded over alleged abuse of office
By: Michael Odeng and Sophia Kagoya, Journalists @New Vision
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Two senior Bunyangabu District Local Government officials have been remanded to Luzira Prison over allegations of irregularly purchasing land on behalf of the district.
The accused are Kenneth Bajenja, a town clerk and resident of North Division, Fort Portal City, and Beatrice Kitalengwa, a senior treasurer and resident of Booma-West, Fort Portal City.
The two appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court Principal Magistrate Grade One, Christopher Opit, on September 23, 2026, and denied charges of abuse of office. The offence of abuse of office attracts a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment upon conviction.
Senior State Attorney Raymond Mugisa, from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that investigations into the matter were at an advanced stage.
“The investigations are still ongoing, and I pray that the court adjourns the matter to another date for mention to allow the police to complete their investigations,” Mugisa told the court.
Before the matter could be adjourned, defence lawyer Emmanuel Emoral told the court that he had instructions to apply for bail but was not yet ready with the necessary documents.
“The accused persons have a right to apply for bail,” the magistrate said.
“The investigations are still ongoing, and I pray that the court adjourns the matter to another date for mention to allow the police to complete their investigations,” Mugisa told the court.
Before the matter could be adjourned, defence lawyer Emmanuel Emoral told the court that he had instructions to apply for bail but was not yet ready with the necessary documents.
“The accused persons have a right to apply for bail,” the magistrate said.
Emoral said the accused had been brought to court unexpectedly and were also unwell. He therefore requested a short adjournment to allow the defence to prepare the documents required for the bail application.
The magistrate granted the request and remanded the two accused until September 25, 2026, when they are expected to return to court for the bail application hearing.
Allegations
The prosecution alleges that in 2022, while serving as town clerk of Nyakigumba Town Council in Bunyangabu district, Bajenja abused his office by allegedly purchasing land in Kisomoro II cell, East Ward, Nyakigumba Town Council, without following the required procurement procedures for the acquisition of property by a local government.
The prosecution also alleges that Kitalengwa abused her office in 2022 by irregularly facilitating the purchase of the same parcel of land for Nyakigumba Town Council without following the required procurement procedures.
The magistrate granted the request and remanded the two accused until September 25, 2026, when they are expected to return to court for the bail application hearing.
Allegations
The prosecution alleges that in 2022, while serving as town clerk of Nyakigumba Town Council in Bunyangabu district, Bajenja abused his office by allegedly purchasing land in Kisomoro II cell, East Ward, Nyakigumba Town Council, without following the required procurement procedures for the acquisition of property by a local government.
The prosecution also alleges that Kitalengwa abused her office in 2022 by irregularly facilitating the purchase of the same parcel of land for Nyakigumba Town Council without following the required procurement procedures.