City Lawyer Matovu Remanded Over Busoga Cooperative Corruption Scandal

The Anti-Corruption Court has remanded city lawyer John Matovu over his alleged role in the loss of compensation money meant for Busoga Growers Cooperative Union.

Working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) of the Uganda Police Force and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) caused the arrest and arraignment of Matovu in court on August 13.

Matovu, an advocate with Ms Matovu & Matovu Advocates, faces charges of theft by an agent and conspiracy to defraud government of over Shs4bn.

Prosecution alleges that the Matovu, while entrusted as one of the lawyers for Busoga Growers Cooperative Union to help it pursue war loss compensation claims from Government of Uganda, conspired and stole the funds. The Anti-Corruption Court remanded Matovu until August 16, 2024.

Also in trouble alongside John Matovu over compensation money meant for Busoga Growers Cooperative Union is Charles Basoga, the Chairperson of the same cooperative union.

Basoga faces charges of causing financial loss and conspiracy to defraud government of over Shs4bn. Prosecution alleges that between 2018 and 2023, Basoga and others still at large conspired and defrauded over Shs4bn, which money was meant for war loss compensation by Government of Uganda to Busoga Growers Cooperative Union.

Others facing trouble over cooperatives money include suspended trade ministry permanent secretary Geraldine Ssali. Money was questionably moved from cooperatives to Geraldine Ssali’s husband Victor Busuulwa via the Kabalagala Centenary Bank Branch. (See Details Here and There).