The Anti-Corruption Court on Friday afternoon remanded city lawyer Akleo Mugisha to Luzira Prison. He faces charges of forgery, theft, and conspiracy to defraud the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council (UNMC) of over UGX 444 million.
Mugisha was arraigned before Grade One Magistrate Abert Asiimwe following a joint operation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
According to the prosecution, Mugisha, along with other suspects who are currently at large, allegedly fabricated an arbitral award dated November 22, 2019. This forged document falsely claimed that they had been contracted by the UNMC to develop a software and database system for the council. The document further alleged that the UNMC had failed to pay UGX 444.3 million for these services.
The suspects allegedly used this fraudulent award to secure a garnishee order. This order was then used to attach the UNMC’s bank account and illicitly withdraw the funds.
The prosecution further contends that the misappropriated funds were transferred to an account belonging to Ram Engineering (U) Ltd, a company registered under the name of Mugambagye Julius, one of the co-accused individuals.
Investigators have indicated that the scheme was executed with the aid of falsified legal documents and unlawful court processes.
UG Exclusive has also learned that a former magistrate, who has since been dismissed from the judiciary, is implicated in the case for their alleged role in facilitating the fraudulent court order.
“This was a coordinated scheme designed to defraud a government institution through the abuse of legal processes. We have gathered evidence linking the accused to the creation and use of fake legal instruments,” a SHACU official stated outside the court.
Mugisha denied the charges brought against him. However, the prosecution informed the court that investigations are still ongoing.
Magistrate Asiimwe remanded Mugisha until June 17, 2025, to allow the State to continue its investigations and apprehend the remaining suspects.
