Former Bufumbiro South County MP Sam Bitangaro has been charged by the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala with fraud and conspiracy to defraud Kiboga Twegate Cooperatives Society Limited of more than Shs 1.3 billion.
Bitangaro, who appeared before chief magistrate Joan Aciro, was charged with fraudulent procurement of a land title, causing financial loss, and conspiracy to defraud.
According to the prosecution, Bitangaro, along with lawyer John Francis Onyango Owor, Stella Kakuba, and civil servant William Tumwine, engaged in a scheme in May 2014 to fraudulently obtain funds from the cooperative. Bitangaro allegedly presented property in Singo Block 308 plot 122 as having a clear title, knowing it would lead to financial losses for the cooperative.
The court heard that Bitangaro fraudulently procured a title for an irregular subdivision of the plot after selling the land to Kiboga Twegate. Prosecutors claim that Onyango, who served as Kiboga Twegate’s lawyer, issued a misleading land inspection report falsely claiming the property was unencumbered. Kakuba is also accused of receiving Shs 1.674 billion from the cooperative for property in Gomba, misrepresenting that she held a good title.
Bitangaro denied the charges and was granted a bail of Shs 12 million, with sureties bonded at Shs 500 million non-cash. His lawyer, Geoffrey Turyamusiima, filed a successful bail application following Bitangaro’s voluntary court appearance, citing previous warrants cancelled due to reported health concerns. The case is set to continue on November 26.
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Bitangiro, in July 2020, was imprisoned by Makindye Court over similar charges. The current allegations genesis’ begins in 2013 when Bitangaro and his co-accused received Shs 3 billion from the Ugandan government and Oxfam International, via the National Forestry Authority, to secure resettlement land for the cooperative after an eviction from Luwunga central government reserve in Kiboga district.
However, the purchased land in Bukompe village, Kassanda district, was later claimed by businessman Abid Alam, who asserted ownership and constructed a road on the property after a very public spat.
During Justice Bamugemereire’s Commission of Inquiry into land matters, Alam disclosed that he paid over Shs 200 million for the land from Bitangaro and other associates, including Andrew Rugasira, Abasi Kajoba Mawanda, and Dr. Mbonye.
