EX-land commission boss Byenkya to defend self today

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Interdicted Uganda Land Commission (ULC) chairperson Beatrice Byenkya Nyakaisiki is today (October 16) expected to defend herself in a case in which she is accused of obstructing the investigating team from searching her office.

The Inspectorate of Government 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.

Byenkya is 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, alongside three police officers.

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.

The Police officers are Richard Godfrey Anywar, Titus Wamono and Edward Turyatunga.

Prosecution alleges that the Police officers drew a gun at the IG investigating team, who wanted to conduct a search at the land boss’s office.

Chief Magistrate Racheal Nakyazze is handling the case. The state is being represented by IG prosecutor, Mikka Luteete.

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 searching the office of the chairperson while they were acting in the exercise of powers conferred by the IG Act, 2002.

The staff are Michael Tumukurate, Zakaria Tiberindwa and Superintendent of Police Noreen Akello.