Ex Min. Bitangaro Granted Bail in UGX1.3Bn Cooperative Fraud Case

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The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has brought fresh charges against former Bufumbiro South County MP Sam Kwizera Bitangaro, alleging he conspired with four others to defraud Kiboga Twegate Cooperatives Society Limited of over UGX 1.3 billion.

Bitangaro denied the charges and was granted bail at UGX 12 million, with his sureties set at UGX 500 million non-cash.

Bitangaro’s co-accused include lawyer John Francis Onyango Owor, Stella Kakuba of Ntinda Ministers Village, and civil servant William Tumwine, who also resides in Ntinda. While Bitangaro appeared in court on Monday, his co-accused are yet to appear.

Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro charged Bitangaro with fraudulently obtaining land titles, causing financial loss, and conspiracy to defraud. The prosecution alleges that in 2014, Bitangaro collected UGX 1.326 billion from Kiboga Twegate Cooperatives Society in exchange for a piece of land he misrepresented as having a clear title.

Court also heard that Bitangaro fraudulently acquired another title in Mityana District by illegally subdividing a plot he had already sold to the cooperative.

Onyango, acting as Kiboga Twegate’s lawyer, allegedly issued a false inspection report claiming the land was free of encumbrances, convincing the cooperative to purchase it.

Kakuba is also accused of accepting UGX 1.674 billion from the cooperative for land in Gomba District, falsely claiming a clear title.

In addition, Bitangaro is accused of conspiring with Onyango to defraud the cooperative, while Onyango allegedly conspired with Kakuba and Tumwine to further defraud the organization of UGX 1.6 billion.

Bitangaro’s lawyer, Geoffrey Turyamusiima, filed a successful bail application, explaining that Bitangaro had previously missed court appearances due to health concerns but voluntarily surrendered on Monday. The court adjourned the case to November 26.

Notably, this is not Bitangaro’s first legal trouble regarding land fraud. In July 2020, Makindye Court jailed him for selling nonexistent land in Kassanda and Gomba districts.

The current allegations stem from a 2013 incident where Bitangaro and associates allegedly obtained funds to provide land for the cooperative’s resettlement after its eviction from Kiboga’s Luwunga central government reserve.

Later, businessman Abid Alam reportedly claimed the land in question, prompting further legal disputes.

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