By Spy Uganda
Kampala: The Anti-corruption Court has Friday adjourned Uganda Lands Commission (ULC) Chairperson, Beatrice Byenkya Nyakaisiki’s battle with the Inspectorate of Government (IG) to May 4, 2022 for pre-trial and fixing dates for hearing the trial.
Last month, the IG office was given up to today 18th, March 2022 to complete their investigations and avail incriminating evidence against Byenkya, on contrary, lawyers appeared with ‘heaps of excuses’ instead of evidence which anyway saw court granting them more time.
While requesting for the last chance, the prosecution said that they were still investigating the matter which Byenkya’s lawyers objected saying that the prosecutor was supposed to do investigations before wasting Byenkya’s time in court.
Meanwhile, Court advised the prosecutor to stop wasting time but take advantage of the pre-trial window to gather all the required evidence. Court further advised both parties to use this time to resolve their matter through negotiations and dialogue, and then present the outcome on 4, May 2022, failure of which court will now set hearing dates to kick off the trial.
Beatrice is charged with abuse of office and obstruction of search along with her three police constables including PC Anywar Richard, PC Titus Wamono and PC Edward Turyatunga.
According to IG, 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 searching for 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,” IG noted
Background
Byenkya’s troubles started last year in October when the Minister of Lands, Judith Nabakooba suspended ULC bosses including her accusing them of being corrupt.
Then, Nabakooba took over the duties of managing the Commission before asking IGG Betty Kamya to investigate Byenkya and colleagues.
Responding to Nabakooba’s requests, Kamya, ordered the interdiction of Byenkya from her position as Chairperson of the commission which Byenkya reversed through a court order that issued an interim order ordering her to stay on until the main application challenging her interdiction and allegations against her is heard.
Addressing the media earlier this year, Byenkya revealed that these are political battles from powerful individuals who have encroached on public land and now want her out of office so they can complete their deals unabated.
“Everybody in Uganda knows that anything connected to the land is a sensitive matter, it is a matter that concerns everybody so that is why we have been in the press for wrong reasons. We work at an institution but believe me or not, we have other influences from outside. You find people with godparents but for me, I don’t have a godparent. I was just appointed by the grace of God,” she said. (Tramadol)
It’s worth noting that parliament earlier this year squeezed officials from the IGG office accusing Kamya of using her office to witch hunt Byenkya which they said stems from Byenkya’s deep rivalry with Kamya when she was line minister.
It should be remembered that when Kamya when still line minister presented a multi-billion Budget to parliament to allegedly compensate landowners including Kusanje and Ndeeba. Byenkya, before the committee vehemently opposed Kamya’s proposal it was finally kicked out.
Byenkya argued that the budget had been inflated without her involvement as Chairperson. Kamya bite her teeth in the committee for the entire duration till she moved out. She has never ‘forgiven’ Byenkya from that time. Pundits say Kamya is simply exposing herself further…just stay logged on…we shall keep updating you on this saga!
