The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has remanded Mathew Bagonza, an aide to presidential adviser Odrek Rwabwogo, to prison after he was charged with abuse of office and money laundering.
Mr Bagonza, who has served as head of the secretariat at the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), appeared before Principal Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opit on Thursday.
Prosecutors allege that Mr Bagonza irregularly established a private company with objectives similar to those of PACEID and later transferred Shs171.7 million from an account associated with the company to his personal account.
He was not required to enter a plea because the case is to be tried by the High Court.
The allegations against him have not been proven, and Mr Bagonza is presumed innocent unless convicted.
Private company at centre of case
Prosecutors Teopista Nnam and Viola Tusingwire, representing the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that the alleged abuse of office occurred in January 2024.
The prosecution says Mr Bagonza, while serving as head of the PACEID secretariat under the Office of the President, registered and incorporated an entity called Presidential Initiative on Export and Industrial Development as a private limited company.
Prosecutors allege that the company had objectives similar to those of PACEID.
They further allege that its registration was prejudicial to the interests of PACEID and the Government of Uganda.
The prosecution says the alleged conduct amounted to abuse of office under Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Act.
Shs171.7m transfers investigated
Mr Bagonza is also facing allegations relating to Shs171.7 million that prosecutors say was transferred from an account opened in the name of the Presidential Initiative on Export and Industrial Development to his personal account.
The prosecution alleges that the transactions took place between 1 September 2023 and 30 August 2026 through Housing Finance Bank’s Kololo branch.
Prosecutors allege that the transfers were intended to conceal or disguise the origin of funds which Mr Bagonza knew, or had reason to believe, were proceeds of crime.
The allegation forms the basis of the money laundering charge against him.
Investigations into the case are continuing.
The court remanded Mr Bagonza to prison and adjourned the case until 5 October 2026.
Arrest had attracted public attention
Mr Bagonza’s court appearance follows weeks of uncertainty surrounding his detention after he was reportedly taken from his home in Entebbe in August.
Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba subsequently publicly confirmed that Mr Bagonza was in custody.
At the time, neither the allegations against him nor the security agency responsible for holding him had been publicly clarified.
PACEID later issued a statement expressing concern about his detention and saying lawyers had been instructed to establish where he was being held and ensure that due process was followed.
Mr Rwabwogo also called for any allegations against Mr Bagonza to be handled through the courts.
“If there is a case on anyone, let it be brought before a competent court and tried fairly and impartially,” Mr Rwabwogo said at the time.
He said Mr Bagonza should be given an opportunity to defend himself and that the evidence against him should be tested through the legal process.
Rwabwogo attends court
Mr Rwabwogo attended Thursday’s court proceedings alongside his wife, Bishop Patience Rwabwogo, a daughter of President Yoweri Museveni.
Several of Mr Bagonza’s relatives were also present at the Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero.
PACEID, chaired by Mr Rwabwogo, was commissioned in 2022 to advise the president on measures aimed at increasing Uganda’s exports and promoting industrial development. The organisation said last month that it remained operational despite the controversy surrounding Mr Bagonza’s detention.
Mr Bagonza will remain on remand as prosecutors continue their investigations ahead of his next scheduled court appearance.
