Ugandan MP Sent to Prison Over Theft, Ordered to Refund Stolen Money

A Ugandan MP has been sent to prison over theft and ordered to refund stolen money. Samuel Otukol, the Pallisa County MP, was sentenced by the Anti-Corruption Court’s Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe. Otukol is a director for both both Samix Uganda Ltd and Zedkol Financial Services.

He was sentenced along Francis Odap, a former Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), and Willy Wamburu, Acting Chief Financial Officer of Namisindwa District, as well as Ezekiel Osire.

On April 01, 2026, Otukol, Odap, Wamburu and Osire were convicted and sentenced on charges of causing financial loss, theft, and conspiracy to defraud.

Court sentenced Otukol to 18 months’ imprisonment and two years’ imprisonment on two counts of theft. He was also sentenced to 18 months and two years’ imprisonment on two counts of conspiracy to defraud.

Court also ordered MP Samuel Otukol to pay Namisindwa District Local Government Shs202,483,413 that he had stolen using Samix Uganda Ltd. He was also directed to compensate Namisindwa District Local Government with Shs105,215,445, which is 50 per cent of Shs210,430,890 he had stolen through Zedkol Financial Services. In total, Otukol will cough Shs 307,698,858.

For Francis Odap, court handed him prison sentences of of 12, 14, and eight months for each of the three counts of causing financial loss. He was also sentenced to 12 and 14 months’ imprisonment for each of the two counts of conspiracy to defraud, with sentences meant run concurrently. This means that Odap will be in prison for up to 14 months.

For Willy Wamburu, he will serve a 15-month jail term for counts of causing financial loss, and conspiracy to defraud.

Court fined Ezekiel Osire for the different counts: Shs3.5m and Shs3m on counts four and seven, respectively. Court also directed Osire to compensate Namisindwa District Shs105,215,445, which is 50 per cent of the Shs210,430,890 he was convicted of stealing through Zedkol financial services.

In handing over the sentences, the magistrate considered the way the crimes were committed, the responsibilities and what part each convict played.

As CAO, Francis Odap was the highest ranking accounting and technical officer at the local government level, and one who approved fictitious invoices that caused financial loss. Although he had abused his office, Odap’s sentence took into account his old age, remorsefulness and his health challenges.

For Wamburu, court determined that as payroll accountant and acting chief finance officer, he was the one who initiated the fictitious invoices that caused financial loss which resulted in a loss, and that he also gave the CAO wrong advice.

A number of government officials have faced it rough in recent months. From a health worker stealing ARVs and hiding them in a latrine, to officials selling government jobs, there have been arrests, and some convictions. (See Details Here and There).