A group of leaders, including the chairperson, from a farmers’ saving group in Ntungamo district, are facing legal charges related to the alleged misappropriation of sh130.8 million from the SACCO.
The accused chairperson, Francis Kamugisha, was formally charged at the Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero, Kampala, on a Friday.
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Kamugisha has been charged with two offenses, specifically, embezzlement and conspiracy to defraud Nyakyera Farmers’ Co-operative Savings and Credit Society Limited.
A cash bail of sh6 million was granted to Kamugisha by Anti-Corruption Court Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe. He is not the only one facing these charges, as the SACCO’s general manager, Asaph Nuwabiine, and treasurer, Fred Tusiime, are also implicated.
The alleged activities took place between November 2017 and January 2018 in Ntungamo district, where it is claimed that the trio, along with others not yet in court, embezzled sh61.4 million, which was allegedly received into the Nyakyera SACCO account. Additionally, on the charges of conspiracy to defraud, it is alleged that the accused persons conspired to defraud the SACCO of sh69.4 million.
Nuwabiine is facing an additional charge, separate from the embezzlement charges, related to embezzling sh8 million from the SACCO. It is claimed that on July 4, 2017, as the general manager, he embezzled funds received in the Nyakyera account. All of the accused have denied these charges.
Under Section 11(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009, individuals found guilty of the offense of abuse of office could face up to seven years in jail or a fine not exceeding sh2.9 million, or both. Similarly, under Section 46 of the Anti-Corruption Act, individuals found guilty of embezzlement may be subject to imprisonment of up to 14 years, a fine of sh6.7 million, or both.
