President Museveni has suspended the Chairperson of Uganda Land Commission (ULC), Beatrice Byenkya Nyakayisiki, and the Commission secretary, Imaryo Barbara, and ordered that the two officials be investigated over allegations of corruption.
In a letter to the Inspector General of Government and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the President calls for immediate suspension and investigation of the two officials, with a view to being prosecution if found culpable.
“I have received your letter in respect to the developments at Uganda Land Commission. Given the nature of allegations that are being made against the Chairperson and Secretary that include corruption, embezzlement, double payments, payment of ghost claimants etc., all leading to loss of huge sums of Government funds,” the President’s letter issued recently reads in part.
“I hereby, suspend them with immediate effect to pave way for investigations. By copy of this letter, I am directing the Inspector General of Government and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate the above allegations and any other offences that could have been committed with a view of prosecuting the culprits,” the letter also copied to the Vice President, the Prime Minister, Attorney General, and Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs adds.
This comes after Ms Byenkya was on January 11 arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court where she was charged with abuse of office and obstruction of an investigation into alleged corruption at ULC.
Ms Byenkya’s co-accused, three Counter Terrorism Unit police officers attached to ULC, constables Richard Anywar, Titus Wamono and Edward Turyatunga, had earlier appeared in charges of obstructing and hindering officials from the Inspector General of Government’s (IGG) office from searching the ULC premises, acts which the IGG said amounted to “abuse of authority of their offices”.
The State minister for Lands, Mr Sam Mayanja, describes what is going on at ULC as a crisis, which he blames on the personalities of Ms Byenkya and the secretary of the commission, Ms Barbarah Imaryo. He describes both as strong willed.
