Ex-URA official seeks plea bargain in sh800m bribery case

__________________

A former supervisor at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), accused of allegedly soliciting a bribe of sh800m from a taxpayer, is seeking to enter into a plea bargain with the prosecution.

Thomas Davis Lomuria, an officer from URA, informed the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court, presided over by Justice Michael Elubu, that plea bargain negotiations are ongoing between Caroline Naggoli and URA.

Naggoli is charged alongside tax officer Bendict Sekaayi, but the prosecution team informed court that only Naggoli is seeking a plea bargain, while her co-accused (Sekaayi) wants the trial to proceed.

A plea bargain is an agreement between the accused person and the prosecution, where the accused admits to some or all of the charges in exchange for a lighter sentence or reduced charges. It helps avoid a full trial and is intended to reduce case backlog while improving access to justice.

 When the case came up for hearing on May 6, 2026, Lomuria asked court for an adjournment to allow the parties to continue exploring the option of a plea bargain. So far, two prosecution witnesses have testified in court.

 “My Lord, this matter is coming up for hearing; however, plea bargain negotiations are underway. We request for an adjournment to allow us to conclude the process,” Lomuria said.

Lomuria told court that the process has been ongoing, but they have not yet reached a conclusion with the accused person.

Justice Elubu granted the request and adjourned the case to July 27, 2026, to allow the prosecution team and the accused to pursue plea bargain negotiations. He directed that if the plea bargain is not concluded by then, the trial will proceed.

Prosecution’s case

According to prosecution, the alleged offences took place on March 30, 2023, at Guanghua Hotel in Kololo, Kampala.

It is alleged that Naggoli and Sekaayi, in the performance of their duties as a supervisor and URA officer respectively, sought a bribe of sh800m from Tong Jiao to reduce the tax liability from sh4.1b to sh2.2b.

Furthermore, the prosecution alleges that Naggoli and Sekaayi abused their positions at URA by demanding a bribe from Tong Jiao to reduce tax liability owed by Migoo and Trading Company Limited. The prosecution purports that the acts were prejudicial to the interests of URA. The accused denied all the charges and are out on bail.

The charges against the accused include offences of corruption and abuse of office, as stipulated in sections 2(a), 26, and 11(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009 as amended.

 If convicted, they face up to 10 years in jail on corruption charge, while abuse of office attracts a sentence of seven years in jail or a fine not exceeding sh1.3m, or both.