By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
The Anti-Corruption Court has remanded the Commissioner for Refugees Management at the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Patrick Okello, and the institution’s Assistant Information Technology Officer, Mr. Noel Ikwap, to Luzira Prison on charges of abuse of office.
The two officials appeared before Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe, on Thursday, 30th July, 2026 and ordered their remand until 10 August 2026, when they are expected to return to court at 10:00 a.m. for mention of their case and the hearing of their bail application.
The charges were instituted by the Inspectorate of Government as part of its continued enforcement of accountability and the rule of law in the management of public affairs.
The IGGÂ was represented by a team comprising Mr. Mikka Luteete, Principal Officer Prosecutions, Ms. Diana Nantabazi, Principal Officer Litigation, and Mr. Pius Kaweesi, an Inspectorate Officer, who led the prosecution on behalf of the institution.
The duo is part of the six officials from the Office of the Prime minister (OPM), who were arrested on 4th June, 2026s for allegedly forcing asylum seekers to pay them between 5000- 10000 USD for refugee status.
Among the arrested include; Patrick Okello (Commissioner for Refugee Management), Douglas Asiimwe (Assistant Commissioner for Refugee Management), Geoffrey Mugabe (Senior Settlement Commandant), Noel Ekwap (Head of Information Technology), Henry Bweme (Registration Officer) and Arnold Nadiope (Refugee Status Interviewing).
The Pakistani national, a one, Mr. Zafar Ahamad was also arrested for allegedly being a link between OPM officials and refugees, playing a central role in coordinating transactions that were believed to have formed part of the extortion scheme.
The arrest was executed by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), targeting officials attached to the Department of Refugees under the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees.
During the operation, authorities seized mobile phones from senior staff, along with 12 laptops and a cache of sensitive documents believed to contain critical evidence linking the suspects to the scheme.
It’s reported that some of the victims included individuals fleeing instability in countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Syria, Burundi, and Rwanda. However, instead of according them protection based on humanitarian need, applicants were allegedly compelled to pay huge bribes to secure refugee status.
