Ex-Animal genetic resources centre bosses’ sh1.3b semen case hearing resumes today

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The hearing of a case in which the former National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC & DB) bosses are accused of fraudulently procuring animal semen worth sh1.3b resumes today, September 23, 2025, at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.

The accused include Dr Charles Lagu (former NAGRC executive director), procurement officer Eziekel Phillip Mukani, farm manager Clement Nuwamanya, veterinary officer Dr Patrick Mawadri, deputy technical manager production Dr Wilfred Anthony Ntaate, Tadeo Mbazira, Charles Ezati, and Benda Katali.

Also charged are Mathias Wakulira and Yasinta Nabukenya, all directors of Kibbubu Agro Suppliers Ltd.

High Court judge Michael Elubu is handling the case.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has since reduced the accused’s charges from 23 to seven after amending the indictment, which contains the summary of the case.

The accused are battling three counts of abuse of office, two counts of causing financial loss, corruption and conspiracy to defraud.

In the previous session, a senior state attorney from the justice ministry, Faith Nyamwenge, testified that the shillings 1.3 billion contract between NAGRC and Kibbubu for the supply and delivery of animal semen was not cleared by the Solicitor General, as required by law.

According to Nyamwenge, the contract was signed on September 3, 2019, whereas the Solicitor General’s office received NAGRC’s request for clearance of the draft contract on September 5, 2019.

Furthermore, the Solicitor General responded to NAGRC’s request on September 24, 2019, nearly three weeks after the contract had been signed.

The witness testified that she had required two conditions for approving the contract. Firstly, she required the entity to replace the performance insurance security with a bank guarantee, as mandated by law, since the Bank of Uganda regulates banks, not insurance companies.

The witness also said she had instructed the entity to amend the dispute resolution mechanism to include Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Cap 4.

However, the witness did not disclose whether the NAGRC management complied with the directives.

Citing the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Regulations, the witness emphasised that performance security must conform to the format provided in the bidding documents and security.

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that Lagu and Mukani, on September 3, 2019, at NAGRC, Entebbe Municipality in Wakiso district, in abuse of their offices, signed and witnessed shillings 1.3 billion contract between NAGRC and Kibbubu, for the supply and delivery of animal semen without clearance from the Solicitor General as required by law.

It is purported that Lagu approved a request for procurement for the supply and delivery of semen when he was not from the breeding department, and without conducting a market survey, contrary to the procurement laws and regulations.

Prosecution further states that Lagu and Mbazira, in November 2019, approved and effected payment of shillings 244 million to Kibbubu for breeds that were delivered in excess of what was requested in the contract for animal semen.

The duo also allegedly approved and effected shillings 482 million to Kibbubu for breeds that were not requested in the contractor supply and delivery of animal semen.

Meanwhile, Kibbubu directors are accused of receiving money from NAGRC for the supply and delivery of breeds that were delivered in excess of what was requested in the contract, knowing it would cause financial loss to the Government.