NAGRIC sh1.3b semen case hearing resumes

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The hearing of a case in which former National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRIC & DB) bosses, including Dr Charles Lagu, are accused of fraudulently procuring animal semen worth sh1.3b resumed Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.

The new head of the court, Justice Michael Elub,u is handling the matter.

Lagu is battling the charges alongside the procurement officer Eziekel Phillip Mukani, farm manager Clement Nuwamanya, veterinary officer Dr Patrick Mawadri, deputy technical manager production Dr Wilfred Anthony Ntaate, Tadeo Mbazira, Charles Ezati, and Benda Katali. Also charged are Mathias Wakulira and Yasinta Nabukenya, all directors of Kibbubu.

In the previous session, Faith Nyamwenge, a Senior State Attorney from the justice ministry, testified that the sh1.3b contract between NAGRIC and Kibbubu Agro Suppliers Limited for the supply and delivery of animal semen was not cleared by the Solicitor General, as required by law.

According to Nyamwenge, the contract was signed on September 3, 2019, whereas the Solicitor General’s office received NAGRIC’s request for clearance of the draft contract on September 5, 2019.

Furthermore, the Solicitor General responded to NAGRIC’s request on September 24, 2019, nearly three weeks after the contract had been signed.

The witness testified that she had required two conditions for approving the contract. Firstly, she required the entity to replace the performance insurance security with a bank guarantee, as mandated by law, since the Bank of Uganda regulates banks, not insurance companies. Secondly, she instructed the entity to amend the dispute resolution mechanism to include the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Cap 4.

However, the witness did not disclose whether the NAGRIC management complied with these directives.

Citing the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Regulations, the witness emphasised that performance security must conform to the format provided in the bidding documents and security.

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that Lagu and Mukani on September 3, 2019, at NAGRIC, Entebbe Municipality in Wakiso district, in abuse of their offices, signed and witnessed a sh1.3b contract between NAGRIC & DB and Kibbubu Agro Suppliers Limited, for the supply and delivery of animal semen without clearance from the Solicitor General as required by law.

It is purported that Lagu approved a request for procurement for the supply and delivery of semen when he was not from the breeding department, and without conducting a market survey, contrary to the procurement laws and regulations.

Prosecution further states that Lagu and Mbazira, in November 2019, approved and effected payment of sh244m to Kibbubu for breeds that were delivered in excess of what was requested in the contract for animal semen.

The duo also allegedly approved and effected sh482m to Kibbubu for breeds that were not requested for in the contractor supply and delivery of animal semen.

Meanwhile, Kibbubu directors are accused of receiving money from NAGRIC for the supply and delivery of breeds that were delivered in excess of what was requested in the contract, knowing it would cause financial loss to the Government.