MP Otukol Samuel, Two District Officials Sentenced to Jail Over Financial Loss, Theft
April 1, 2026 – The Anti-Corruption Court has sentenced Member of Parliament Hon. Otukol Samuel, two senior Namisindwa District officials, and a business associate to various jail terms and fines for causing financial loss, theft, and conspiracy to defraud the district local government.
Hon. Otukol, who also serves as a director in Samix Uganda Ltd and Zedkol Financial Services, was handed the harshest penalty. He received 18 months and 2 years’ imprisonment on two counts of theft, and similar concurrent sentences on two counts of conspiracy to defraud. In addition to jail time, the court ordered him to compensate Namisindwa District a total of UGX 307,698,858.
The money includes UGX 202,483,413 stolen through Samix Uganda Ltd, and UGX 105,215,445 – being fifty percent of the UGX 210,430,890 stolen through Zedkol Financial Services.
Co-accused receive jail terms, fines
Mr. Odap Francis, the former Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Namisindwa District, was convicted on counts of causing financial loss and conspiracy to defraud. He received sentences ranging from 8 to 14 months, all to run concurrently, meaning he will serve an effective 14-month jail term.
Mr. Wamburu Willy, the Acting Chief Financial Officer of the district, was sentenced to between 10 and 15 months on similar charges, with concurrent sentences resulting in a 15-month jail term.
Mr. Osire Ezekiel, a director of Zedkol Financial Services, was sentenced to fines of UGX 3.5 million and UGX 3 million on two counts. He was also ordered to pay compensation of UGX 105,215,445 – the other fifty percent of the amount stolen through Zedkol.
Court considers roles, abuse of trust
While sentencing the convicts, the court took into account the manner in which the crime was committed, each convict’s role, and the positions they held.
For Mr. Odap Francis, the court noted that he was the one who approved the fictitious invoices that resulted in the loss. As CAO, he was the highest-ranking technical officer at the local government level and abused his position of trust. However, the court also considered that he was a man of advanced age, was remorseful, and had multiple health conditions.
The court noted that Mr. Wamburu Willy initiated the fictitious invoices which led to the loss. As both Payroll Accountant and Acting Chief Finance Officer, he held a position of trust that he abused by misadvising the CAO. The court also acknowledged that he was a family man with a young family.
No compensation orders for Odap, Wamburu
The court declined to grant compensation orders against Odap Francis and Wamburu Willy, stating that the money had ultimately ended up with Hon. Otukol Sam and Mr. Osire Ezekiel. The court found that the imposed sentences alone met the ends of justice in their cases.
The ruling sends a strong signal about judicial resolve to hold public officials and their private collaborators accountable for financial crimes against local government entities.
About The Author
