A former engineer who worked at the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), Umar Katongole, along with his wife Hawa Sengendo, who is a community development officer at the Luwero district local government, are set to appear in court on April 8, 2024. They face accusations of illegal enrichment and money laundering amounting to 6.2 billion shillings.
Initially, the hearing was scheduled to commence on March 28, 2024. However, Katongole’s lawyer, Aggrey Bwire, was absent, prompting Katongole to request a postponement. Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga granted the request, rescheduling the defence hearing to April 8, 2024.
The legal proceedings stem from a ruling on December 6, 2023, where the Anti-Corruption Court, presided over by Justice Kajuga, found that Katongole and Sengendo had a case to answer concerning the charges brought against them. Despite this ruling, they have not yet presented their defence.
Katongole and Sengendo have opted to provide their defence through an unsworn testimony, indicating their intention to present evidence without undergoing cross-examination by the prosecution. They also expressed their intention to call witnesses in support of their case.
In December 2023, Justice Kajuga asserted that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence supporting the allegations of illicit enrichment and money laundering against the accused. She emphasized the need for Katongole and Sengendo to explain their actions.
The prosecution, led by the Inspectorate of Government’s (IGG) head of prosecution, Brenda Kimbugwe, and senior Inspectorate officer Sylvia Nabirye, alleges that Katongole intentionally concealed the origins of his assets located in Block 180, specifically plots 1395, 1782, and 877 in Wakiso district. Additionally, it is claimed that he transferred land to Darkins Uganda, concealing its illegal origin.
Furthermore, the prosecution contends that Sengendo concealed the transfer of another piece of land to Darkins Uganda, a company associated with Katongole. It is alleged that Katongole and Sengendo deposited 2.8 billion shillings in Tropical Bank Limited between April 2011 and August 2015, concealing its illegal source.
To obscure the source of the money, Katongole reportedly transferred funds from their joint account with Sengendo to her individual account at Tropical Bank. Sengendo is also accused of depositing 466 million shillings in her accounts, despite knowing that the money was obtained unlawfully. Both individuals have denied the charges and are currently out on bail.
