By Davis Mugabi

The director of public prosecution has once again exposed the rot at the State House Anti-Corruption Unit. Many people have been complaining about this unit, but a few days ago, DPP further exposed their incompetency and their weaknesses in handling cases. 

On the night of January 5, 2024, and in contravention of a permanent injunction court order, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit raided a property along Kira Road in Kampala and arrested six workers.

The following day, the suspects were paraded before the KCCA Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges of aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit a felony, and criminal trespass.

However, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has withdrawn from the case. 

The DPP closed the matter so as to verify that the issue pertaining to the ownership of the impugned property had been definitely adjudicated upon by the High Court via Civil Suit No. 106 of 2011. In the earlier judgment, the High Court decreed that Kabogozza Mutwalib, from whose successors businessman Yusuf Ssemakula bought the property, holds the rightful ownership over the land delineated in LRV 1834 Folio 11 Plot 106 Kira Road. The court further issued a permanent injunction to preclude Lucy Mary Orech and any parties claiming under her from encroaching upon the impugned property. 

However, the Anti-Corruption Unit did not observe the court order. DPP has warned Gen. Isoke to stop creating fake criminal files on people when he has no evidence against them. However, the withdrawal of the ODPP from the case further portrays the unit as a tool for fighting battles. 

In March 2024, the ODPP dropped charges against Ssemakula following an earlier malicious arrest by the Anti-Corruption Unit. 

According to the DPP office, Semakula Sulait and Yusuf Semakula were illegally arrested without any evidence pinning them. A document seen by this media house shows that the DPP couldn’t continue with this case.

“This is to inform the Court that the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to discontinue proceedings against SEMAKULA SULAIT and SSEMAKULA YUSUF, alias INVESTOR.”.

The two were charged. with: 3 COUNTS: OF MALICIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY C/S 335(1) OF THE PENAL ODE ACT; COUNT OF FRAUDULENT PROCUREMENT OF REGISTRATION OF A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE C/S 190(1) OF THE REGISTRATION OF TITLES, Act, Cap. 230.

After perusing through the file, DPP realized that the two were the rightful owners of the property and that their arrest was illegal. Previously, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, warned the anti-corruption campaign that their time in committing such crimes is about to end, given the number of complaints raised against them. He further reiterated that he would not accept this lawlessness.