MP and three others jailed over sh307m theft

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Pallisa County MP Samuel Otukol and three others have been jailed for stealing funds worth shillings 307 million belonging to Namisindwa District Local Government.

The others are former Namisindwa district chief administrative officer Francis Odap, acting chief financial officer Willy Wamburu, and Zedkol Financial Services director Osire Ezekiel.

On April 1, 2026, the Anti-Corruption Court Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe handed different jail sentences to the convicts after finding that the prosecution proved charges of causing financial loss, theft and conspiracy to defraud against them beyond reasonable doubt.

“You have a right to appeal against the conviction and sentences within 14 days,” Asiimwe said.

Otukol, who is also the director of Samix Uganda Limited and Zedkol Financial Services, was convicted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for theft and conspiracy to defraud.

The court further ordered the legislator to compensate Namisindwa District Local Government shillings 202.5 million, which was stolen through Samix Uganda, and shillings 105.2 million, being half of shillings 210.4 million obtained through Zedkol Financial Services.

Odap was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment after being convicted on counts of causing financial loss and conspiracy to defraud. Wamburu was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment on similar charges.

Meanwhile, Osire was fined shillings 6.5 million and also ordered to compensate the district shillings 105.2 million, representing half of the funds lost through Zedkol Financial Services.

Justifying her sentences, the magistrate said the court considered the role played by each convict and the positions they held in public office and private entities.

The court heard that Odap approved fictitious invoices that led to the financial loss, abusing his position as the district’s top technical officer, while Wamburu was found to have initiated the fraudulent invoices and misadvised the CAO, despite holding positions of trust.

The court declined to issue compensation orders against Odap and Wamburu, noting that the funds were received by Otukol and Osire.

The magistrate noted that Otukol was the mastermind behind the scheme, having allegedly orchestrated the fraud and benefited from the proceeds through accounts linked to companies where he was a director.

The court also noted his previous conviction on similar offences and his failure to appear for judgment and sentencing after jumping bail.

Osire was found to have jointly operated the Zedkol account and participated in the withdrawal of the funds. The court considered his prior conviction alongside Otukol on related charges.

Osire was directed to pay compensation within four months after serving his sentence, while no timeline was set for Otukol due to his absence from court.

During the trial, the prosecution was led by Senior State Attorney Emily Mutuzo Sendaula.