__________________________

KAMPALA - The Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court will on January 11, 2024, sum up a case in which former Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) engineer Umar Katongole is accused of illicit enrichment and money laundering to the tune of shillings 6.2 billion.

Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, while adjourning the case on December 6, 2023, said she would sum up the case for the assessors on January 11, 2024.

Katongole is accused alongside his wife, Hawa Sengendo, a community development officer at Luwero district local government.

After summing up the case, the assessors shall be required to give their opinion on whether or not to convict Katongole and Sengendo.

Court assessors are non-lawyers who sit with the judge to advise the court in the assessment of cases. Assessors’ opinions are not binding to the judge.

On December 6, 2023, when the court ruled that Katongole and Sengendo must answer to the accusations, they chose to remain silent and let the court decide on the evidence produced in court.

Prosecution's case

The Prosecution, led by the head of prosecution at the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), Brenda Kimbugwe, alongside senior inspectorate officer Sylvia Nabirye, alleged that Katongole deliberately obscured the origins of his properties located in Block 180, plots 1395, 1782, and 877 within Wakiso district.

It is further alleged that Katongole transferred the land to Darkins Uganda Ltd, deliberately concealing the properties' illegal origin.

Prosecution also claimed that Sengendo concealed the transfer of another piece of land in Block 26, plots 280, 281, and 282 at Mengo to Darkins Uganda, a company linked to Katongole.

Prosecution said Katongole and Sengendo allegedly deposited shillings 2.8 billion in Tropical Bank Ltd between April 2011 and August 2015, concealing its source, although they were aware that the money was obtained illegally.

To disguise the money's source, prosecution said Katongole transferred money from their joint account with Sengendo at Tropical Bank to Sengendo’s account number 0100017148 in Tropical Bank.