By Sekaggya Seka Moses
KAMPALA, UGANDA – In a significant development, the Anti-Corruption Court has convicted and sentenced Mr. Ateng Francis, former Principal Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Lands, Lira Zonal Office, to 3 years imprisonment for corruption-related offenses. The sentencing took place today, Tuesday, 25th November, 2025.
Ateng was found guilty on eleven counts, including abuse of office, fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title, forgery, uttering false documents, and conspiracy to commit a felony, among others.
The charges stem from a 2018 case in which Ateng, while employed at the Ministry of Lands’ Zonal Office in Lira District, allegedly abused his authority with the intention of defrauding Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) of its land.
According to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Ateng facilitated the irregular issuance of a special certificate of title, arranged for the separation and allocation of the said land, identified brokers, and sold the land to private individuals without following the proper procedures for disposing of government property.
Ateng and his co-accused further forged signatures of the then Managing Director URC and used it to utter false documents used in the transfer and sale of the said land.
The investigations into Ateng’s activities were initiated following a directive issued by H.E. the President in 2022, instructing the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to collaborate with CID and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate corruption within Uganda Railways Corporation and prosecute all individuals involved in defrauding URC of its land.
One of Ateng’s co-accused, Ocen Joseph, had previously pleaded guilty to the same charges and was given a custodial sentence of two years.
The prosecution of Ateng and his co-accused demonstrates the government’s commitment to holding public officials accountable for their actions and ensuring that those who engage in corrupt practices face the full force of the law.
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