Uganda’s Consul General in Mombasa, Kenya, Ambassador Herbert Kiguli, has been remanded to Luzira Prison over allegations that he caused a financial loss of Shs494 million to the Government and abused his office.
Kiguli, 59, appeared before Anti-Corruption Court Principal Magistrate Christopher Opit on Monday and denied the charges.
The court ordered that he remain in custody until 7 October 2026, when he is expected to return for the hearing of his bail application.
Prosecution alleges that the offences were committed on 9 and 10 November 2020, when Kiguli was serving as Commissioner for Human Resource Management at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in Entebbe.
According to the prosecution, Kiguli originated and signed five requisitions on behalf of the principal of Bukalasa Agricultural College, seeking a total of Shs614 million.
The Inspectorate of Government alleges that the transactions resulted in a financial loss of Shs494 million to the Government.
Investigators say the money had not been budgeted for or anticipated by Bukalasa Agricultural College. They also allege that there was no valid Memorandum of Understanding between the college and MAAIF to govern the financial relationship at the time.
The funds were reportedly meant to support various MAAIF activities that could not be carried out because of restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Kiguli’s case is part of wider investigations into the alleged misuse of funds released by MAAIF to Bukalasa Agricultural College and the Fisheries Training Institute in Entebbe during the lockdown.
In 2020, MAAIF reportedly released about Shs10.2 billion to the institutions in instalments to facilitate activities that were ultimately disrupted by the COVID-19 restrictions. The Inspectorate of Government later found that about Shs8.7 billion had been misappropriated.
The funds were intended for activities including industrial training, procurement of stationery and instructional materials, and renovation of livestock farms.
Investigators also questioned payments made for students’ feeding bills at a time when students had reportedly returned home because of the lockdown.
Some officials were also accused of withdrawing part of the money and using it for personal purposes, including the purchase of private land in prime locations.
The Inspectorate of Government previously said some MAAIF and Bukalasa Agricultural College officials admitted wrongdoing and agreed to refund the money. The agency has since been pursuing recovery of the funds.
