By Our Reporter
LIRA CITY
A prominent Lira City businessman has been arraigned before the Lira Chief Magistrate Court on charges of Attempted Felony, Uttering False Documents, and Making False Documents.
Okwir Joel who was arrested by the State House Anti-corruption Unit appeared before the Chief Magistrate today, Friday, 7th March, 2025.
According to the Charge Sheet, the accused, while serving as the chairperson of the area land committee Railway Division, is alleged to have fraudulently procured a leasehold certificate of title for a forest reserve at Railways Quarters A village, Railway Division, Lira Municipality.
During the investigation, it was revealed that in September 2021, Okwir using his influence as the chairperson area land committee, submitted land application forms for a piece of land in Railways Quarters A village, Railway Quarters Parish, Railway Division, Lira Municipality, to the Lira MZO, claiming to be the customary owner of the land, well knowing the said land is designated as part of the forest reserve according to the urban development plan of the Lira Municipal Council.
Among the documents he submitted with his land application included, a minute extract from a purported physical planning committee, indicating that his application had been approved under minute LMC PPC 083/12/2020 from a meeting dated December 20, 2019 whereas not.
