Court to hear sh4b cooperative union petition over lawyer's rights
Matovu wants the court to determine that his trial is unfair because his rights have been violated.
City lawyer John Matovu wants the court to quash the proceedings and set him free. Justice David Makumbi will preside over the case. (File photo)
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The Anti-Corruption Court will, on September 14, 2026, hear a petition filed by city lawyer John Matovu challenging a case against him in relation to sh4b belonging to a cooperative union.
Matovu filed the application, arguing that his right to a fair hearing, as guaranteed by the Constitution, has been violated. He wants the court to quash the proceedings and set him free. Justice David Makumbi will preside over the case.
Matovu wants the court to determine that his trial is unfair because his rights have been violated. He also seeks an order staying proceedings before the Anti-Corruption Magistrate’s Court pending the outcome of the High Court petition.
The lawyer further wants the court to declare that his remand to Luzira Prison, without conviction or sentence, was illegal and unconstitutional.
According to Matovu, a trial conducted without due regard for fundamental rights is null and void and does not amount to a fair trial. Matovu will present his case, after which the prosecution will respond.
On September 7, 2026, Justice Makumbi halted the trial of Matovu, James Muganza, the Jinja District Local Government commercial officer, and Charles Basoga, the chairperson of Busoga Growers Cooperative Union, following an application challenging alleged violations of Matovu’s human rights.
In May this year, the Constitutional Court ruled that allegations of human rights violations should be handled by the trial court, which is required to determine whether the accused person's rights have been violated.
Prosecution's case
Prosecution alleges that the trio and others still at large, between 2018 and 2023, in Kampala and Jinja District, conspired to defraud sh4b in funds meant for war loss compensation to Busoga Growers Co-operative Union.
Prosecution further alleges that Basoga, between 2018 and 2023 in Jinja district, received sh569.5m meant for war loss compensation to Busoga Growers Co-operative Union and put it to personal use, knowing or having reason to believe that such an act would cause financial loss to the cooperative union.
It is also alleged that Muganza, between 2018 and 2023 in Kampala and Jinja districts, in abuse of the authority of his employer, did an arbitrary act prejudicial to the interests of his employer when he received sh250m meant for war loss compensation to Busoga Growers Co-operative Union.
Muganza is also accused of putting the sh250m to personal use, knowing or having reason to believe that such an act would cause financial loss to Busoga Growers Co-operative Union.
They denied the charges.
New Vision broke the story of the cooperatives' cash scandal, in which more than sh164b is said to have been embezzled by legislators, trade ministry officials, lawyers and cooperative workers.