By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit in conjunction with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has arraigned before court the former Lira City Physical Planner and renowned Lira City tycoon for encroaching on Forest Reserve land.
Omara Geoffrey and Okello Lawrence, a renowned businessman in Lira appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court today, Tuesday, 29th April, 2025.
They have been charged with Abuse of Office, Fraudulent Procurement of Certificate of Title, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Altering boundary marks, and clearing and occupying a forest reserve for commercial purposes.
They have been remanded until 6th May 2025.
According to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Omara while serving as the Lira City physical planner extracted a forwarding letter dated 12th June 2018 to the Secretary Lira District Land Board, indicating that the physical planning committee had approved the application for grant of a lease hold title on Lira Forest Reserve whereas not.
He went ahead to fraudulently process and procure a title on the Lira Central Forest Reserve which was transferred to Okello Lawrence.
Omara has been convicted twice on several charges related to the sale of government land in Lira City/District.
Okello went ahead to cut down part of the forest reserve and poured Murram to drain it in order to put a Petrol station.
The Ministry of Water and Environment notified Okello of the fact that he was in the Forest reserve and even tried to stop him from constructing the Petrol station thereon, but he went ahead with the construction due to the backing of some politicians in Lira.
