Why Okodo and two others were acquitted of land fraud

On February 28, Magistrate Grade One of the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo, Kampala, acquitted Peter Okodo and two others of land fraud charges.

Okodo is the Director of the Jerusalem School of Nursing and Health Sciences in Lira. He was charged with, among other things, fraudulently purchasing a plot of land from the Lira District Local Government.

Okodo, who is also contesting for the Kyoga North Parliamentary seat, was charged with three others of three counts of abuse of office, fradulent procurement of land title and conspiracy to defraud Lira district local government.

His co-accused, Basil Opio, former Chairperson of the Ojwina Land Committee, and Fabious Otike, Lira District Natural Resource Officer, were both acquitted of the charges.

Herbert Asimwe, the Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One, ruled that the allegations against the three were based on mere suspicions, and that the prosecution failed to present evidence to prove their guilt.

However, the court found Joseph Ocen Alwong, Secretary of the Lira District Lands Board, guilty of two counts of abuse of office and fraudulent land title documentation. He was duly convicted.

He will serve two and a half years for abuse of office and 18 months for fraudulent procurement of land title. He will serve the sentences simultaneously.

Alwong was sent to the Luzira government prison.

In his ruling, the Magistrate advised the Lira district local government to formalise and hand over the land to Okodo, or to compensate him for his investments in the land.

The case arose from the arrest of the four in 2022 over land on plot 41, opposite Lira Regional Referral Hospital, which Okodo was accused of fraudulently acquiring.

Okodo could not contain his excitement about the ruling, claiming that the accusations were politically motivated, but he is relieved that justice has been served.

Felix Kaihura, one of Okodo’s defense lawyers, expressed gratitude for the decision, stating that development partners like Okodo should be supported.