The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has charged and remanded the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), head of secretariat Mathew Bagonza to prison over alleged money laundering and abuse of office.
Bagonza an aide to PACEID chairman and son in law to the first family Odrek Rwabwogo, was on Thursday arraigned before Principal Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opit, after spending 22 days in an unknown detention facility, following his arrest on the orders of the first son and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba in August.
According to prosecution on count one of abuse of office contrary to section 10 (1) of the Anti- Corruption Act, Cap.116, Bagonza, in the month of January 2024, while employed as the head, PACEID under the Office of the President, in abuse of the authority of his office, irregularly registered and incorporated Presidential Initiative on Export and Industrial Development, a private limited company with similar objectives to those of his employer, which act was prejudicial to the interest of his employer, the Government of Uganda.
In the second count of money laundering contrary to Section 3(a), 119 & 139(10(a) of Anti-Money Laundering Act, Cap. 118, prosecution alleged that Bagonza, and others still at large between the 1st day of September 2023 and the 30th day of August 2026, at Housing Finance Bank, Kololo Branch, intentionally transferred property to wit funds totalling to UGX 171 million from Account No. 1100273525 which he opened in the names of “Office of the President-Presidential on Export and Industrial Development”, to his personal Account No. 1100278763 at Housing Finance Bank, Kololo Branch, in the names of Bagonza Matthew, for the purpose of concealing and disguising the illicit origin of the said property while knowing or having reason to believe that the said funds were proceeds of crime.
However, Bagonza didn’t take plea to the charges, since they are capital in nature and can only be tried by the High Court.
Principal Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opit, remanded Bagonza to Luzira Prison until Oct 5, 2026, when the case will come up for further mention.
In attendance during the court session were Rwabogwo and his wife first daughter Bishop Patience Rwabwogo.
