LIRA — Three officials from Lira District Local Government have been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment each after being convicted of abusing their offices and fraudulently acquiring a government land title.
The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court convicted the officials alongside a private individual who was handed a one-year prison sentence for facilitating the fraud.
The convicted public officials are Opio Francis, the District Staff Surveyor; Otike Pabius, the District Natural Resources Officer; and Ogwanga Joel, a Cartographer at the Ministry of Lands, Lira Zonal Office.
Atoo Rebecca, the sister of Opio Francis, was also convicted and sentenced to one year in prison after the court found that she facilitated the fraudulent acquisition of the land title despite not being a public officer.
According to the Anti-Corruption Unit at State House, the offences occurred between February and August 2019 when Lira District Local Government began processing a certificate of title for its land located at Ireda Estate.
During the survey process, Opio and Otike allegedly excluded a portion of the district’s land, with assistance from Ogwanga, who helped to fraudulently obtain a Freehold Certificate of Title for Plot 3–5 Ben Emor Road, Ireda Estate.
The title was then registered in the name of Atoo Rebecca, who later sold the land to Olam Pius, with all the convicted persons participating in and witnessing the transaction.
The Anti-Corruption Unit, working together with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), arrested and charged the suspects before the Anti-Corruption Division on June 20, 2023.
After reviewing the evidence presented, the court found the accused guilty on charges of abuse of office, fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title and conspiracy to defraud.
The three public officials will also be barred from holding any public office for 10 years following their conviction.
The Anti-Corruption Unit said the convictions demonstrate continued efforts by government agencies to hold public officers accountable for corruption-related offences and protect public resources.
