Uganda Human Rights Commission Senior Official Convicted of Abuse of Office

The Acting Director Regional Services at the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) one Asiimwe Wilfred Muganga has been convicted of Abuse of office by the Anti Corruption Court

Asiimwe Wilfred Muganga, Mabiho Patrick Nyakana-Secretary UHRC and Wamala Tadeo-Accountant UHRC were indicted by the Office of the DPP with four counts of Abuse and one count of conspiracy to defraud.

The case, prosecuted by Baine Stanley Moses- Chief State Attorney and Emily Mutuzo Sendaula-State Attorney, found that Asiimwe Wilfred Muganga irregularly requisitioned for payment of UGX 100,000,000 in batches of UGX 25,000,000, purporting that the funds were for conducting field activities at the Mbarara, Hoima, Jinja, and Central Human Rights Regional Offices. Wamala Tadeo initiated the payment and Mabiho Patrick Nyakana approved the payment to the personal accounts of the Regional Human Rights Officers in the aforementioned regional offices.

When the funds reached the accounts of the Regional Human Rights Officers, Asiimwe Wilfred Muganga contacted each one of them to withdraw and return to him UGX 20,000,000 and retain UGX 5,000,000 for their personal use.

The Regional Human Rights Officer for Mbarara became suspicious of this transaction, and whistleblew to one of the commissioners of UHRC. The matter was brought to the attention of the then Commission Chairman who reported it to the State House Anti Corruption Unit.

Investigations ensued and the trio were charged together with three Regional Human Rights Officers. Upon hearing the matter, Justice Lawrence Gidudu convicted Asiimwe Wilfred Muganga on the four counts of abuse of office and acquitted Patrick Nyakana Mabiiho and Wamala Tadeo.

The court further ordered him to compensate Government UGX 60,000,000, and barred him from holding public office for the next 10 years effective the date of sentence.

During sentencing, the Learned Trial Judge was emphatic on the need to sound a warning that public officers who steal public funds will be punished if found guilty. “Stealing public funds irrespective of the amount is a common thing here at ACD and it cannot be treated lightly,” he said. “ It must be frowned upon! “ he added. Court also ordered Wamala Tadeo to compensate Government UGX 20,000,000 which he received from Asiimwe Wilfred but never refunded to the UHRC account. He is supposed to pay it within 30 days from the date of judgement or be charged with embezzlement. The Human Rights Regional Officers of Jinja, Hoima, Mbarara and Central were also ordered by the court to each compensate the Government UGX 5,000,000 within 30 days effective 14th January 2022.

(Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)