LIRA, UGANDA – In a significant victory for the anti-corruption crusade, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in a joint operation with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), has successfully arraigned a former member of the Lira District Land Board for the fraudulent sale of public land.
Ameny Thomas Max, a former District Speaker and member of the land board, appeared before the Grade One Magistrates Court in Lira District on Thursday evening. He faces charges of fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title and forgery, specifically related to a parcel of government land at Ireda Estate.
The prosecution alleges that between 2019 and 2020, Ameny, alongside accomplices who remain at large, exploited his official position to orchestrate a sophisticated land grab. According to court documents, Ameny forged a land application form to convert the tenure of the property from customary to freehold. He willfully made false statements in the application, fraudulently claiming that his wife, Edwe Dorcus Rita, was the customary owner of the land.
The land in question is identified as part of Government land situated at Ireda Estate, specifically Plot 2 Abosolom Oteng Road. Using the forged documentation, Ameny successfully registered Edwe Dorcus Rita as the proprietor of a freehold certificate of title, effectively stealing public property for personal gain.
The magistrate presiding over the case remanded Ameny Thomas Max to custody until August 13, 2026, when the case is set to resume. The successful arraignment demonstrates the government's continued commitment to holding public officials accountable and recovering public assets.
