Former Lands Official Convicted in Uganda Railways Land Fraud Scandal
LIRA, UGANDA – The Anti-Corruption Court has found Mr. Ateng Francis, a former Principal Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Lands, Zonal Office in Lira, guilty on eleven counts related to a sophisticated scheme to defraud Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) of its prime land.
Ateng was convicted on charges including abuse of office, fraudulent procurement of a title, forgery, uttering false documents, and conspiracy to commit a felony. The court has remanded him into custody until November 7, 2025, when he is scheduled to be sentenced.
The conviction is a direct result of a 2022 directive from H.E. the President, which ordered the Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), to investigate and prosecute corruption within the Uganda Railways Corporation.
The Scheme Unraveled
According to evidence presented in court, the fraudulent activities took place in January 2018. While serving in his official capacity in Lira, Ateng Francis conspired with others to illegally acquire and sell land belonging to URC.
The prosecution detailed how Ateng abused his authority by facilitating the issuance of a special certificate of title for the government land. He then orchestrated its separation and allocation, identified brokers, and oversaw the sale to private individuals. Crucially, these actions completely bypassed the legally mandated procedures for the disposal of government property.
To lend an air of legitimacy to the fraudulent transaction, Ateng and his co-accused went a step further. They forged the signature of the then Managing Director of URC and used the falsified documents to execute the transfer and sale of the land.
Previous Conviction and Pending Sentencing
The case highlights a broader conspiracy, as Ateng was not acting alone. One of his co-accused, Ocen Joseph, had previously pleaded guilty to the same set of charges. Ocen was subsequently handed a custodial sentence of two years.
With Ateng’s conviction now secured, the focus shifts to his sentencing scheduled for November 2025. The case has been hailed by anti-corruption advocates as a significant step in the fight against the embezzlement of public assets, particularly following the President’s specific directive to protect the holdings of the Uganda Railways Corporation.
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