Two former officials from Ibanda District have been convicted by the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court for illegally exchanging part of a public forest reserve without clearance from the relevant authorities.
Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga today found Albert Matsiko Mutwingire, the former Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), and Tom Nuwagira, the former District Natural Resources Officer, guilty of Abuse of Office and conflict of interest under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2009.
The charges stemmed from a 2009 land swap they executed in their official capacities, trading about 13 hectares of the Ibanda Local Forest Reserve for another piece of land without approval from the National Forestry Authority (NFA) or conducting any technical assessments.
The two were charged on September 22, 2022, following investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in conjunction with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
According to court findings, the land exchange was carried out secretly, bypassing standard procedures such as public consultation, environmental valuation, and proper documentation.
Instead of processing the deal through the district’s official structures, Mutwingire and Nuwagira arranged the agreement from the private chambers of Bwatota Beshonga & Co. Advocates in Mbarara District—far from their jurisdiction—raising further questions about the legitimacy of the transaction.
“The accused persons, entrusted with safeguarding public natural resources, acted with a disregard for procedure, transparency, and the law,” Justice Kajuga said.
“Their actions undermined public interest and compromised the integrity of the forest reserve system.”
Both men have been remanded and are scheduled to return to court for sentencing on June 10. The case adds to growing scrutiny of public land management and underscores the judiciary’s heightened vigilance on environmental corruption.