Lira, Uganda – March 8, 2025– Earlier on Friday , Okwir Joel, a prominent businessman in Lira, was arraigned before the Lira Chief Magistrate Court on charges of Attempted Felony, Uttering False Documents, and Making False Documents. The case, prosecuted by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has sent shockwaves through the community.
The accused, who previously served as the chairperson of the area land committee in Railway Division, is alleged to have fraudulently procured a leasehold certificate of title for a piece of land designated as part of a forest reserve in Railways Quarters A village, Railway Division, Lira Municipality.
According to investigations, in September 2021, Okwir Joel allegedly abused his position as chairperson to submit land application forms to the Lira Municipal Zoning Office (MZO), falsely claiming customary ownership of the land. The land in question is part of a protected forest reserve under the urban development plan of the Lira Municipal Council, making it ineligible for private acquisition.
Among the documents submitted by Okwir Joel was a minute extract from a purported physical planning committee, which indicated that his application had been approved under minute LMC PPC 083/12/2020 from a meeting dated December 20, 2019. However, investigators discovered that no such meeting or approval ever took place, exposing the documents as forged.
The case has raised concerns about the integrity of land management systems in the region and the exploitation of public office for personal gain. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has vowed to pursue the case vigorously, emphasizing its commitment to combating corruption and protecting public resources.
Okwir Joel has been remanded pending further hearings, as the court prepares to examine the evidence against him. If convicted, he could face severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines, under Uganda’s anti-corruption laws.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in land governance and the need for stronger oversight to prevent the exploitation of protected lands for private interests.
