Kampala, Uganda | The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has charged former Bufumbiro South County MP Sam Bitangaro with conspiring to defraud Kiboga Twegate Cooperatives Society Limited of over 1.3 billion shillings. Bitangaro, who denied the charges, was granted bail of 12 million shillings, with his sureties bonded at 500 million non-cash.
Alongside Bitangaro, four others are implicated, including lawyer John Francis Onyango Owor, Stella Kakuba, and civil servant William Tumwine, who have yet to appear in court.
During the proceedings, Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro formally charged Bitangaro with fraudulent procurement of title, causing financial loss, and conspiracy to defraud. The prosecution alleges that on May 21, 2014, at the offices of Onyango and Company Advocates in Kampala, Bitangaro fraudulently obtained 1,326,000,000 shillings from Kiboga Twegate Cooperatives Society Limited by falsely claiming ownership of property in Singo Block 308, despite knowing he lacked a valid title.
Additionally, on May 5, 2014, Bitangaro is accused of fraudulently procuring a title for another property by irregularly subdividing land he had already sold to the cooperative. Onyango, as the cooperative's lawyer, allegedly issued a false land inspection report, misrepresenting that the property was free of encumbrances.
The charges extend to Kakuba, who is accused of obtaining 1.674 billion shillings from the cooperative for another property under false pretenses, and Tumwine, who is implicated in a conspiracy to defraud.
Bitangaro has faced previous legal challenges, including a July 2020 conviction for selling non-existent land in Kasaanda and Gomba Districts. Reports indicate that his troubles began in 2013 when he and his co-accused allegedly obtained up to 3 billion shillings intended for land resettlement after the cooperative's eviction from Luwunga central government reserve.
The case, which has drawn significant attention, is set for the next hearing on November 26.
