Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has today arraigned Mutesasira Evans Kaganizo, the Chairperson of Uganda Liberal Teachers’ Union Members SACCO, and Esiingwa Hassan Maganda, a businessman and director of Hansem Technical Services Limited, on charges of obtaining money by false pretenses and conspiracy to defraud over UGX 1.35 billion. The case has sent shockwaves through the financial and education sectors, as the accused are alleged to have misappropriated funds intended for the welfare of teachers.
The prosecution, led by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions revealed that the accused, along with other accomplices still at large, are implicated in a broader scheme involving the misallocation of over UGX 3.6 billion from a UGX 20 billion fund. This fund was granted by President Yoweri Museveni to Teachers’ SACCOs across the country to improve the welfare of educators.
According to investigations, Mutesasira, together with Twinomujuni Nathan Kakson, the SACCO Secretary, allegedly engaged in a series of suspicious financial activities after receiving the funds. These activities included unauthorized transfers, inflated procurement costs, and diversion of funds to personal accounts. The prosecution further alleges that the accused conspired to create fictitious projects and transactions to justify the misappropriation of the money.
The case has raised concerns about the integrity of financial management within SACCOs, particularly those benefiting public servants like teachers. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has vowed to pursue all individuals involved in the scandal, emphasizing that such actions undermine national development and the welfare of hardworking educators.
As the case proceeds, the court has remanded the accused until their next hearing, scheduled for [insert date]. The public and stakeholders in the education sector are closely watching the proceedings, hoping for justice and accountability in the management of public funds.
This scandal serves as a stark reminder of the need for stringent oversight and transparency in the handling of public resources, especially those intended to uplift vulnerable groups like teachers.
