Former land commission boss Byenkya to defend herself today

KAMPALA - Interdicted Uganda Land Commission (ULC) chairperson Beatrice Byenkya Nyakaisiki is today (February 4, 2026) set to defend herself in a case in which she is accused of obstructing IGG investigating officers from searching her office.

The Inspectorate of Government (IG) investigation team had, on January 4, 2022, gone to ULC offices to retrieve files from Byenkya’s office as they investigated allegations of misappropriation of funds, amounting to millions of shillings, and abuse of office against Byenkya.

She is expected to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero, Kampala city, presided over by Chief Magistrate Peter Fred Lochomin.

Byenkya is charged alongside Police officers: Richard Godfrey Anywar, Titus Wamono and Edward Turyatunga. It is alleged that the Police officer drew a gun at the IG investigating team, who wanted to search the land boss’ office.

Byenkya and her bodyguards are 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.

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 accused persons are being represented by John Mary Mwaya, Charles Tibaijuka and George Maiteki.

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 carrying out a search of the office of chairperson while they were acting in the exercise of powers conferred by the IG Act, 2002.