UGANDA, Lira | Real Muloodi News | Geoffrey Etwop, a prominent figure in Lira known as a tycoon and the NRM District Treasurer, finds himself entangled in legal proceedings after being charged with fraud and remanded to Lira Main Prison.
The 55-year-old resident of Junior Quarters Cell, Kirombe Ward, Lira City West Division, appeared before Chief Magistrate Samson Abiti Loum and pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
Etwop’s arrest took place in Kampala on Thursday, 1st February, 2024, orchestrated by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with Police CID. Subsequently, he was swiftly brought to court on Friday to face the allegations.
The accusations against him revolve around the fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title, a violation of Section 190 of the Registration of Titles Act Cap 230.
The prosecution alleges that between August 2017 and November 2020, Etwop engaged in deceitful activities at the Lira Lands Offices, fraudulently obtaining the registration of a freehold certificate of title for Plot 16–18, Soroti Road, Camp Swahili, in his name.
Documents reveal that Etwop submitted a letter dated December 23, 2019, along with other land application documents, falsely claiming approval from the Physical Planning Committee of Lira Municipal Council for the acquisition of a freehold title.
However, investigations indicate that the land in question is designated as a public open space according to the approved Physical Plan of Lira Municipal Council 2016-2026.
During the court proceedings, Etwop’s legal team, represented by lawyers Robert Irumba and Marvin Aba of Tian Advocates, applied for bail on behalf of their client.
They presented four sureties, including Etwop’s wife, son, and two friends, asserting his status as a law-abiding citizen with a permanent place of abode.
State Attorney Paul Omara, standing in for the Resident Chief State Attorney, requested a brief adjournment, citing instructions from his superior to respond to the bail application personally.
Despite objections from the defence, Chief Magistrate Loum granted the state’s request, adjourning the proceedings until Monday to allow time for a response to the bail application. Consequently, Etwop was remanded until the next hearing.
The case involving Etwop underscores broader concerns regarding land fraud in Lira, where reports indicate a pattern of collusion between politicians and technocrats to unlawfully allocate public land for private gain.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit continues to investigate such cases, aiming to curb the illegal appropriation of public resources and protect the interests of the community.
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