Four banned from public office over forest Land
KAMPALA. The Anti-Corruption Division Court in Kampala has convicted and sentenced four individuals, including two former Lira District land officials and two businessmen, for their roles in fraudulently acquiring a title for part of the Lira Central Forest Reserve.
The convicts are Omara Geoffrey, former Physical Planner of Lira, who was sentenced to pay a fine of UGX 2 million or serve four years in prison. Ocen Alwong Joseph, former Senior Land Management Officer of Lira, was fined UGX 1 million or face two years in prison.
Okello Lawrence, a businessman, was sentenced to pay a fine of UGX 6.4 million or serve two years in prison. As part of his plea bargain, he has agreed to return the land title he fraudulently obtained to the Commissioner of Land Registration for cancellation. Okwiri Joel, a businessman, was fined UGX 5 million or face two years in prison.
The accused faced charges including abuse of office, fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title, conspiracy to commit a felony, altering boundary marks, and unlawfully occupying protected land for commercial purposes. They pleaded guilty under a plea bargain arrangement, resulting in a combined total of UGX 14.4 million in fines, with the option of imprisonment if they fail to pay.
In addition to the fines, the court has barred all the convicted individuals from holding public office for the next 10 years. The case has drawn national attention as part of ongoing efforts to curb land-related corruption.
