By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has successfully prosecuted two Ibanda senior Local Government District officials for abuse of office in a forest land swap scandal.
This resulted after the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court presided over by the Hon. Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga convicted the two officials of abuse of office related to an illegal forest land exchange that contravened public procurement laws and governance standards on 27th May, 2025.
Mr. Matsiko Mutungwire, the former Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), and Mr. Nuwagira Tom, the former Natural Resources Officer, were jointly charged and found guilty under Section 11(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009 (as amended).
The charges related to an unlawful Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) they executed with Rukokoma Mixed Farmers Cooperative Society in 2009, resulting in the irregular exchange of part of the Ibanda Local Forest Reserve.
According to the prosecution led by Chief State Attorney, Safina Bireke and Senior State Attorney, Gertrude Apio from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the accused officials entered into the MOU before the legal degazettement of the forest reserve—a critical procedural requirement under Ugandan law.
While the MOU contained a clause indicating that degazettement was a condition precedent to any land exchange, evidence revealed that the actual exchange occurred despite the forest never being formally degazetted.
The court established that the accused officials’ actions were premature and violated established procedures under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Act.
The forest reserve, categorised as a strategic government asset, required formal processes, including the approval of the Contracts Committee, a step the officials deliberately bypassed. Instead, a “trade-in” method was used without following the right procedure, further aggravating the procedural breaches.
Moreover, the accused failed to obtain the mandatory legal guidance from the Solicitor General before the disposal of public land, another safeguard designed to protect against misuse of government resources.
The court described the officials’ actions as arbitrary and prejudicial to the interests of their employer, the Government of Uganda. The irregular transaction sparked public outcry and exposed the district to significant financial liabilities through subsequent civil litigations.
In its ruling, the court emphasized the importance of adhering to procurement and asset disposal protocols, stating that such procedures are critical in curbing impunity among public servants and ensuring accountability in managing public assets.
The two officials’ convictions demonstrate the ODPP’s continued commitment to combating corruption in local governments and safeguarding Uganda’s natural resources through lawful and transparent administrative processes.
