MP Otukol
The Anti-Corruption Court has convicted a sitting Member of Parliament and three others over charges of causing financial loss, theft, and conspiracy to defraud in a case linked to Namisindwa District.
Hon. Otukol Samuel, a Member of Parliament (Pallisa County) and director in Samix Uganda Ltd and Zedkol Financial Services, was convicted alongside Odap Francis, the former Chief Administrative Officer of Namisindwa District, Wamburu Willy, the Acting Chief Financial Officer, and Osire Ezekiel, a director of Zedkol Financial Services.
The convictions were secured by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on March 27, 2026, before the Anti-Corruption Court.
Court heard that between June and November 2019, Odap and Wamburu processed payments amounting to over Shs495 million under the guise of staff loan deductions to entities that had not provided any services to the district.
The payments included Shs82.5 million to United for Development SACCO, Shs202.4 million to Samix Uganda Ltd, and Shs210.4 million to Zedkol Financial Services.
Prosecution argued that these payments were made in violation of Ministry of Public Service guidelines, which require all loan deductions to be remitted through a single code managed by the Uganda Consumer Lenders Association (UCLA).
Investigations further revealed that the recipient companies were not licensed by the Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority (UMRA), were not members of UCLA, and had not extended any loans to district staff.
The court found that upon receipt of the funds, Hon. Otukol and Osire withdrew and utilised the money.
Odap Francis and Wamburu Willy were convicted on three counts of causing financial loss and two counts of conspiracy to defraud.
Hon. Otukol Samuel was convicted on two counts of theft and two counts of conspiracy to defraud, while Osire Ezekiel was convicted on one count of theft and one count of conspiracy to defraud.
The court is expected to deliver its sentence on April 1, 2026.
The case was prosecuted by Senior State Attorney Emily Mutuzo Sendaula before Her Worship Esther Asiimwe.
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