Lira Land Board chairperson charged with conspiracy to defraud

LIRA - The Chairperson of Lira District Land Board has been charged with conspiracy to defraud a businessman of sh70 million.

Paul Chankoma was on Tuesday (April 8) charged before the Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero, Kampala in a session presided over by Principal Grade One Magistrate Paul Mujuni. 

He denied the charge and was remanded to Luzira Prison until this Thursday (April 10).
Chankoma is charged with conspiracy to defraud, alongside businessman Anthony Ojuka and social worker Kenneth Allan Owani, who are still at large.

It is alleged that between February and April 2023, in Lira city, Chankoma, Ojuka, and Owani conspired to defraud Francis Eryao of sh70 million by falsely claiming the money was needed to cancel a certificate of title for a piece of land.

The land is comprised in the Freehold Register, Volume 181, Folio 3, Plot 39, Kwania Road, Te-Garage, Lira district.

State Attorney Sandra Mutuwa, from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), informed the court that investigations are still ongoing and requested additional time to complete inquiries.

Mutuwa also opposed the bail application, stating that she needed more time to verify the documents presented by the four sureties, including local council introduction letters.

The state attorney told court that she had been ambushed by the defence lawyers with documents presented in court and was unable to verify them on short notice.

However, defence lawyer Sam Osongol argued that the documents could easily be verified through a phone call, as the authors’ telephone numbers were indicated.

Magistrate Mujuni agreed with the state attorney, and he ruled that she needed more time to verify the documents submitted by the defence.