IGG Beti Kamya Charges ULC Boss Byenkya With Abuse Of Office, Obstruction Of Search
By Uganda Online Media
Kampala: The Inspector general of Government Betty Kamya has charged Uganda Land Commission boss Beatrice Nyakaisiki and her three police constables for abuse of office and obstruction of search.
“The Inspectorate of Government will arraign the following suspects for Obstruction of Search and Abuse of Office. They are: Hon. Beatrice Byenkya Nyakaisiki, Chairperson Uganda Land Commission, Police Constable Anywar Richard Godfrey Male, Constable Titus Wamono and Constable Edward Turyatunga, all attached to the Chairperson Uganda Land commission,” reads part of the statement
According to the statement, Hon. Beatrice Byenkya Nyakaisiki, PC Anywar Richard, PC Titus Wamono and PC Edward Turyatunga on 4th January 2022 at Uganda Land Commission, Kampala without lawful justification or excuse, willfully obstructed and hindered Mr. Tumukurate Michael, Mr. Zakaria Tiberindwa and Superintendent of Police Noreen Akello all from the Inspectorate of Government from carrying out a search in the office of Chairperson Uganda Land Commission while they were acting in the exercise of powers conferred by the Inspectorate of Government Act, 2002.
“Hon. Beatrice Byenkya Nyakaisiki, PC Anywar Richard, PC Titus Wamono and PC Edward Turyatunga while employed as Chairperson Uganda Land Commission and Police Constables respectively, at Kampala, on 4th January 2022 did in abuse of authority of their offices, wilfully obstructed and hindered the lawful search of the office of the Chairperson Uganda Land Commission, arbitrary acts prejudicial to the interests of their employer the Government of Uganda and the Inspectorate of Government,” the IG said in a statement.
The three Police Officers have been arrested by the Inspectorate of Government and efforts to arraign Hon Beatrice Byenkya Nyakaisiki are still ongoing. The IG prosecutors are Dr Earnest Katwesigye and Thomas Okoth.
ByenkYa’s troubles started last year in October when the Minister of Lands, Judith Nabakooba suspended ULC bosses including her, citing an administrative standoff fuelled by corruption and bickering over deals.
In order to restore normality in the short term, Nabakooba took over the duties of managing the Commission as Auditor General and Inspector General of Government investigate corruption allegations.
In her letter dated October 12, Nabakooba had requested the Inspector General of Government (IGG) Beti Kamya, to carry out an investigation into alleged cases of abuse and misuse of ULC resources, adding that findings of the report would guide the process of restoring order and normal functioning of the commission.
Responding to Nabakooba’s requests, Kamya, in November gave nod to the minister’s earlier recommendations, and ordered for the interdiction of Byenkya from her position as Chairperson of the commission.
Following Kamya’s order, Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba minister also advised Byenkya to step aside and allow the due process of the investigation to take place noting that she is the custodian of the ministry and that the constitution empowers her to cause investigations into the Uganda Land Commission.
Byenkya has since declined to step down saying she is still in office adding that the court issued her an interim order allowing her to stay on until the main application challenging her interdiction and allegations against her is heard.
