KAMPALA, Uganda – The Anti-Corruption Court has remanded a businesswoman accused of conspiring with senior administrators at Iganga Technical Institute to embezzle nearly UGX 1 billion from the government institution.
Erina Barugahara Wanzala, a businesswoman and Director of Basaam General Merchandise and Supplies Ltd, was arraigned on Friday following a joint investigation by the Anti-Corruption Unit of the State House (Anti-Graft), the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Wanzala faces charges of conspiracy to commit a felony. She was remanded and is scheduled to return to court on March 31, 2026, alongside her co-accused.
Prosecutors allege that between January 2024 and December 2025, the accused conspired with Eliachu David, Wabwire Benedict, and Ajuna Damali—all senior administrators at Iganga Technical Institute—to defraud the institution of UGX 983,480,000.
Court documents reveal that Wanzala allegedly received the funds through bank transactions, withdrawing the money in multiple installments under the guise of supplying food to the institute. However, investigators confirmed that the purported supplies were never delivered during the 2024–2025 period.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by state agencies to crack down on corruption in public institutions, particularly involving procurement and supply chain fraud. The joint task force continues to pursue leads regarding the diversion of the funds.
