Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There was drama in court on Monday as senior lawyer John Matovu, 62, was charged and remanded to Luzira Prison over allegations of stealing more than 4 billion shillings in compensation meant for the Busoga Growers Cooperative Union.
Matovu, of M/S Matovu & Matovu Advocates, appeared before Acting Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Abert Asiimwe after ignoring three criminal summonses, which prompted the court to threaten a warrant for his arrest. Despite his efforts to block the charges, citing human rights violations, Matovu was ordered to take a plea and was subsequently denied bail on two counts: theft by agent and conspiracy to defraud.
He vehemently dismissed the charges as “false” and “malicious,” and threatened to sue the state if acquitted. Matovu applied for temporary release on bail, citing his advanced age, financial stability, and health conditions. However, the magistrate remanded him to Luzira Prison until August 16, 2023, citing the need to evaluate several issues, including a consent letter from a surety’s spouse.
Matovu is jointly charged with three others: Charles Basoga, Chairperson of the Busoga Growers Cooperative Union, and James Muganza, the Jinja District Commercial Officer. The prosecution alleges that they conspired to defraud more than 4 billion shillings that was meant for war loss compensation, with Matovu and another lawyer, Fred Makada, facing separate counts of theft by agent.
According to the prosecution, Basoga, while serving as the Chairperson of the Busoga Growers Cooperative Union between 2018 and 2023 in Jinja District, received 569.5 million shillings in funds meant for war loss compensation. It is alleged that he misappropriated the funds for personal use, knowing or having reason to believe that such an act would cause financial loss to the Union.
The prosecution further alleges that Muganza, while employed as the District Commercial Officer, abused his authority by arbitrarily receiving 250 million shillings. Meanwhile, city lawyers Matovu and Makada are accused of theft by agent, stealing 4.051 billion shillings and 1.2 billion shillings, respectively.
This case is the second involving suspects brought to the Anti-Corruption Court on charges related to the theft of billions in cooperative funds. The first group includes three MPs, a lawyer, Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali, and a trade official who have been on remand for nearly a month and were last week committed to the High Court to face trial.
Igara East MP Michael Mawanda, Elgon County MP Mudimi Wamakuyu, and Busiki County MP Paul Akamba are jointly charged with Leonard Kavundira, Principal Cooperative Officer in the Ministry of Trade, and city lawyer Julius Kirya Taitankoko.
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