Kotido Court Clears Two Officials in Emyooga Mismanagement Case

By Richard Onapatum | April 30, 2025 Kotido, Karamoja – The controversial case involving the mismanagement of Emyooga funds in Kotido has ended in acquittal after the prosecution failed to present evidence or witnesses, leading to the dismissal of all charges against two local government officials.

On April 30, 2025, the Grade One Magistrate’s Court in Kotido cleared Daniel Achila Lowot, the Kotido Municipal Commercial Officer, and Tadeo Muria, the District Commercial Officer, of all charges related to bribery and mismanagement of the Shs 1.1 billion allocated to 32 SACCOS in Kotido under the Emyooga program. This initiative, intended to support grassroots businesses and promote financial inclusion, was marred by allegations of corruption and poor fund distribution.

The case began in November 2024 when RDC Charles Ichogor called for an investigation after an internal audit revealed that a significant portion of the funds had never reached the intended beneficiaries, despite being earmarked to uplift low-income households. As a result, Lowot and Muria were arrested and suspended, facing public and legal scrutiny.

However, despite months of legal proceedings, Magistrate Rashid Katende dismissed the case on April 30, 2025, citing “lack of prosecution” and failure to provide any witnesses or concrete evidence. The court ruled that the prosecution had repeatedly delayed proceedings and failed to disclose evidence, thus violating the constitutional right to a fair trial.

“This case has been delayed time and time again, and the state failed to take action. Justice delayed is justice denied,” Magistrate Katende said in his ruling. “The court cannot proceed when the prosecution does not fulfill its duty.”

Defense attorney Gabriel Ogire expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that his clients had endured public humiliation without any substantial evidence to justify the charges. “This case was a baseless attack that tarnished the reputations of two hardworking civil servants. Today, justice has prevailed,” Ogire said.

After the verdict, both Lowot and Muria spoke out against the charges, claiming that the case had been driven by personal grudges rather than evidence. Muria called the accusations “malicious” and “unfounded,” while Lowot expressed relief, thanking the court for restoring his reputation.

Impact on the Community

The dismissal of the case has not only cleared the two officials but also brought attention to the broader issues surrounding the Emyooga program, which was meant to help transform Uganda’s economy by supporting grassroots entrepreneurs. Local communities in Kotido, however, have expressed frustration over the mismanagement, with many SACCO members who were supposed to benefit from the funds still struggling to access the promised resources.

“We’ve been waiting for these funds for years,” said Atena Nakimwene, a member of a local SACCO in Kotido. “The funds were meant to change our lives, but we were left with nothing. I feel like our voices were ignored, and now we see the officials go free without any real accountability.”

The lack of transparency and follow-up in the management of the funds has created widespread distrust, not just in Kotido but in other districts where the Emyooga program has been implemented. Local leaders are now calling for stricter monitoring and accountability measures to ensure that future initiatives do not suffer from similar corruption issues.

Reinstatement and Next Steps

With the case now closed, all eyes are on whether Lowot and Muria will be reinstated to their positions. According to Regulation 38(7) of the Public Service Commission Regulations, officials who are acquitted or cleared of criminal charges may be reinstated to their duties with full pay, including salary arrears, upon submission of a formal report and court judgment.

However, Ruth Alot, a local councilor in Kotido, expressed concerns over the return of the two officials, emphasizing that accountability needs to go beyond the courtrooms and into government offices to rebuild trust with the public.

“The problem is not just in the courts,” she said. “We need systems that prevent such mismanagement in the first place, not just people cleared of charges without any real answers for the communities they were supposed to serve.”

As of now, there has been no official word from the district leadership or Ministry of Public Service regarding the potential reinstatement of the officials.

The Bigger Picture

The Kotido case has sparked broader conversations about the effectiveness of the Emyooga program and other government initiatives aimed at promoting economic empowerment. While the program’s goals are commendable, this case highlights the challenges in executing such programs in a transparent and accountable manner.

As investigations into other districts continue, it remains to be seen what steps the government will take to address the gaps in oversight that allowed this scandal to unfold.