The Anti-Corruption Court in Uganda has remanded the country’s Consul General in Mombasa, Kenya, Kiguli Herbert, to Luzira Prison over alleged abuse of office and causing financial loss of UGX494.09 million to the Ugandan government.
Kiguli, 59, was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Christopher Opit after his arrest by the Inspectorate of Government (IG) over financial transactions linked to his previous position as Commissioner for Human Resource Management at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
According to the prosecution on Monday, the charges relate to events in November 2020, when Kiguli allegedly generated and signed five financial requisitions amounting to UGX614.7 million on behalf of the Principal of Bukalasa Agricultural College.
The Inspectorate of Government alleged that the transactions resulted in a financial loss of UGX494,097,270 to the government.
Prosecutors told the court that the funds were neither budgeted for nor anticipated by Bukalasa Agricultural College at the time. They further alleged that there was no valid Memorandum of Understanding governing the financial relationship between the college and MAAIF to justify the transactions.
The prosecution said the funds were intended to finance various MAAIF activities which could not be carried out because of restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kiguli appeared before Magistrate Opit, where the charges were read and explained to him before he entered a plea of not guilty.
The case was brought by the Inspectorate of Government, which was represented in court by Principal Inspectorate Officer William Moses Ntumwa and Inspectorate Officers Milly Namuwanga and Jennifer Katusiime.
Following the proceedings, the court ordered Kiguli’s remand at Luzira Prison pending the hearing of his bail application on October 7.
Kiguli is a veteran Ugandan public servant who currently serves as Consul General of Uganda at the country’s Consulate General in Mombasa, Kenya.
The Inspectorate of Government reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public resources and urged public officers to comply strictly with financial regulations and procedures in the discharge of their official duties.