Court to deliver ruling on ex-land boss Byenkya today
Byenkya is charged alongside Police officers Richard Godfrey Anywar, Titus Wamono and Edward Turyatunga. It is alleged that the Police officers drew a gun at the IG investigating team, who wanted to conduct a search at the land boss’s office.
Prosecution alleges that Byenkya and the three Police officers on January 4, 2021, at ULC without lawful justification or excuse, wilfully obstructed and hindered three IG staff from carrying out a search of the office of the chairperson while they were acting in the exercise of powers conferred by the IG Act, 2002. (New Vision/Files)
Michael Odeng
Journalist @New Vision
KAMPALA - The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala is today, Thursday, April 24, expected to deliver a ruling in a case in which the interdicted Uganda Land Commission (ULC) chairperson, Beatrice Byenkya Nyakaisiki, is accused of obstructing the investigating team from searching her office.
The IG investigation team had on January 4, 2022, gone to ULC offices to probe allegations of misappropriation of funds, amounting to millions of shillings, and abuse of office by Byenkya.
The head, IG’s Kampala regional office, Michael Tumukurate, recently told the Anti-Corruption Court that Byenkya and three police officers stopped them from carrying out their duties while at ULC offices in Kampala.
Byenkya is charged alongside Police officers Richard Godfrey Anywar, Titus Wamono and Edward Turyatunga. It is alleged that the Police officers drew a gun at the IG investigating team, who wanted to conduct a search at the land boss’s office.
The four are battling charges of obstruction of search and abuse of office, contrary to sections 35 and 11 of the Inspectorate of Government Act and the Anti-Corruption Act, 2002, respectively.
Obstruction of a search attracts a maximum sentence of three years in jail, on conviction, while abuse of office elicits a seven-year jail term.
Tumukurate said that at the time of searching, ULC offices were heavily guarded by police officers, which he said was unusual.
The search certificate was tendered in court as an exhibit by the defence lawyers – John Mary Mwaya, Charles Tibaijuka and George Maiteki.
The witness said the purpose of a search certificate is to record all documents that have been retrieved from the scene.
Allegations
Prosecution alleges that Byenkya and the three Police officers on January 4, 2021, at ULC without lawful justification or excuse, wilfully obstructed and hindered three IG staff from carrying out a search of the office of the chairperson while they were acting in the exercise of powers conferred by the IG Act, 2002.