Date set for Apac local government sh338m fraud case verdict

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The Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court is set to deliver its verdict on July 31, 2025, in a case where former Apac District local government officials are accused of mismanaging sh338 million meant for district development.

On July 8, 2025, a notice from the chambers of acting Principal Judge Jane Okuo Kajuga, who has been presiding over the case, indicates that she will deliver the judgment.

The communication was sent to the lawyers, accused persons, and an assessor, informing them of the scheduled judgment.

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

Three of the five accused, Adoko, Ekwang and Ebong were separately charged with the offence of money laundering under Section 3 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

It is alleged that the money was sent to different accounts under the guise that it was domestic arrears and that the beneficiaries had requisitioned the money, whereas not.

Prosecution’s case

Posecution alleges that the five accused respectively and irregularly processed payments as domestic arrears for district employees without proper procedures in 2021 while still employees of Apac local government, causing a loss of sh338m.

According to the prosecution, Adoko, as a human resource officer, allegedly assisted Wanje, Ekwang, Atim and Ebong to benefit from the funds that were irregularly credited to the district officials' accounts as arrears.

It is alleged that Adoko mobilised the officials to withdraw the funds.

Prosecution argues that Ekwang received sh134m that was irregularly deposited into the accounts of five people as salary arrears, yet he knew that at the time he received the money between July 1 and 2, 2021, it was a proceed of crime.

Ekwang is alleged to have received money withdrawn from the accounts of Bernard Okidi, Nelson Opeto, Moses Ongol, Patrick Ocura and Darius.

A court document indicates that Ekwang allegedly received sh35m from Okidi, sh16m from Opeto, sh34m from Ongol and sh32m from Ocura.

Prosecution further alleges that Ebong, as a senior accounts officer, acquired a total of sh55m from a one Eunice Achola and Betty Kabagaya yet he knew that the money was a proceed of crime that was fraudulently deposited on Achola and Kabagaya accounts.

It is purported that from Achola’s account, Ebong received sh35m on July 7, 2021 and sh20m from Kabagaya’s account.

What the law says

According to Section (20) of the Anti- Corruption Act, a person who does or fails to do any act knowing or having reason to believe that the act or omission will cause financial loss to the government, bank credit institution, insurance company or public body commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 336 currency points (sh6.7m) or a term of imprisonment to exceeding 14 years.

Section 3 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act states that any person convicted of the offence of money laundering is liable to 15 years’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding sh2b.

Section 309 of the Penal Code Act stipulates that a person who conspires with another to commit an offence of conspiracy to defraud is liable on conviction to five years in jail.