COURT | LAND | FRAUD 

KAMPALA - Lira district surveyor Francis Opio, 33 and his sister, Rebecca Atoo, have been arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala over irregularly processing and allocating titles on government land in Lira district. 

The duo has allegedly been on the run since last year after they skipped Police bond.

Opio, who is a resident of Irenda Shamber village, central division in Lira city was presented before Principal Magistrate Grade one Moses Nabende, together with Atoo. 

They denied the charges.

The duo is jointly charged with natural resources officer Pabious Otike and Joel Ogwanga, a cartographer at Lira lands ministry zonal office. Otike and Ogwang were charged last year and released on court bond.

Opio and Atoo presented sureties through their lawyer, Rashid Ssekamwa, telling the court that they are ready to abide by any conditions imposed on them if granted bail.

However, state prosecutor Gertrude Apio objected to their application based on an affidavit sworn by detective Charles Mugerwa telling the court that though the accused may have fixed places of abode they are not dependable and are likely not to return to court if released.

Atoo with her baby at the Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday. (All Photos by Margaret Zalwango)

Apio added that Atoo’s attendance in court was secured through her arrested having been on the run since the investigation into the matter commenced.

“When she [Atoo] was summoned to the Police, she ran to the district internal security officer for protection and never reported to Police as summoned,” she said. 

Apio said Opio have been on the run and even switched off phones making it difficult to be traced and thus requested stringent conditions if the court was inclined to release the accused persons.

Nabende, while dismissing their application, said the accused persons gave no reasons for skipping Police bond and have not been co-operative to have the ends of justice met.

The group is facing charges of abuse of office, fraudulent procurement of certificate of title and conspiracy to defraud the Government of Uganda part of its land located on Plot 3-5 Ben Emor Road Ireda Estates.

Prosecution alleges that between February and August 2019 at Lira, while surveying government land, Opio left out part of the land which they allocated to individuals including Atoo.

It is further alleged that between July and August 2019 at Lira district lands ministry zonal offices, the accused officials privy to the fraudulent procurement of the said title, conspired together to defraud the Government of Uganda part of its land in Lira District on plot 3-5 Ben Emor Road Ireda Estates.

The magistrate remanded the accused to Luzira Prison until February 28, 2022, and the prosecution said investigations are complete.