Kabale
Police in Kabale are holding three leaders of the Kabale Municipality Elected Leaders Emyooga SACCO over the alleged theft of Shs65,095,000, following a months-long investigation into suspicious withdrawals from the group’s account. The suspects include Ignatius Mwesigwa (38), the Speaker of Southern Division and resident of Omukirwa Cell, Karubanda Ward, who also chairs the SACCO; Susan Abby Akatukunda (44), a Southern Division councillor and resident of Nyakakika Cell, Karubanda Ward, who serves as the SACCO secretary; and Francis Tumwakire (45), a salesman from Kijurera Cell, Bukoora Parish, Kitumba Sub-county, who is the group’s treasurer.
According to Kigezi Region Police Spokesman Elly Maate, the trio allegedly conspired to siphon money from the SACCO’s account at Centenary Bank Kabale Branch, account number 3202647544, between March 22, 2023, and September 27, 2024.
Elly Maate
The alleged fraud came to light on November 4, 2024, when SACCO members discovered that the account had been emptied and confronted the chairperson, Mwesigwa, who later reported the matter at Kabale Central Police Station.
Police detectives recorded statements from witnesses, retrieved SACCO documents, and obtained a full bank statement detailing the contested transactions. Questionable withdrawal slips, along with specimen signatures from the suspects, were submitted to handwriting experts for analysis.
According to the police report, the handwriting examination implicated the trio, prompting the Kabale Resident State Attorney to sanction the file with 29 counts of theft. The suspects are expected to be arraigned in court to take plea.
Torch Media Africa
