State Attorney Muwaganya appointed to head Investment Crimes Prosecution Unit

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya has been appointed the head of the newly created Specialized Unit in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions-DPP. The unit is charged with the prosecution of Investment Crimes investigated by the State House Investment Unit, the State House Anti–Corruption Unit, and the State House Health Monitoring Unit.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Jacquelyn Okui, Muwaganya was appointed by the top management of the office of the DPP following the creation of the new unit and reorganization of some Regional State Attorney Offices and transfers of staff.

Okui says following the reorganization, the Masindi Regional Office has now been moved to Hoima as the Hoima Regional Office to ease accessibility by stakeholders in the region. Hoima Region comprises Hoima, Masindi, Kibaale, Kiryandongo, and Buliisa.

She further said that a new Resident State Attorney office has been created in Kyankwanzi to enhance access to criminal justice services by stakeholders there.  Additionally, Okui has told Uganda Radio Network that the top management has transferred 10 officers for efficient and effective prosecution service delivery.

Those transferred include Alex Bagada Assistant DPP  who has been moved from the Soroti Regional Office to the General Case Work Department as the head of the Homicide Division, Baxter Bakibinga  Senior State Attorney has been taken from the Complaints Office to the  Mubende Regional Office as Deputy Regional Officer, Richard Muhereza Senior State Attorney from Kiboga to  Arua Regional Office as Acting  Regional Officer and Simon Angumale the Senior State Attorney who has been in Arua has now been promoted to be in charge of the regional office.

Others include  Viola Tusingwire a Senior State Attorney who will now be in charge of the Mbale Investment Crimes Prosecution Unit as a Senior State Attorney,  Bruce Twongirwe  State Attorney in charge of the Kaberamaido Investment Crimes  Prosecution Unit, Nam Terpista will be in charge of the Makindye Investment Crimes Prosecution Unit while  Bernard Luzinda will be the Regional Resident Senior State Prosecutor for  Katikamu Kyankwanzi.

Okui has indicated that some deployments take immediate effect while others will begin their new duties on April 2nd 2024.

The Investment Crimes and Prosecution Unit is aimed at advancing the national effort in supporting investment advancement in the country.

This is also one of the efforts by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in fighting corruption since the duties expected of this office specifically focus on coordinating units established by himself under State House such as the Health Monitoring Unit, the Investor Protection unit headed by Col Edith Nakalema and State House Anti-Corruption Unit headed by Brigadier General Isoke.

Muwaganya who is currently a Chief State Attorney in the office of the DPP holds a Master’s Degree in Sustainable International Development Law from the  University of Washington, in the United States of America, a bachelor’s Degree in Law  (Hons) from  Makerere University, Kampala, a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Bar Course) from the Law Development Centre, Kampala, Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, Uganda Management Institute, Kampala and Post Graduate Diploma in Social Justice, Makerere University, Kampala.

Muwaganya started his legal career as a Public Prosecutor in 2008.  He has since then handled a wide range of criminal litigations in all Courts of Judicature in Uganda.  He has worked in diverse regions of Uganda, including the Eastern region where he worked as the Iganga  Regional State Attorney,  Norther Uganda where he worked as the Gulu Regional State Attorney and, the Eastern region, where he worked as the Mbale  Regional State Attorney. In the Central Region, Muwaganya has served as the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court and Mukono Court Regional State Attorney.

Among others, Muwaganya previously worked as the Deputy Head of the Plea Bargain program at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Headquarters and he is currently the  Deputy Regional Officer, of Kampala Region.

Before joining the ODPP, in Uganda, Muwaganya had a brief practice as a private advocate in Kampala.

As a State Attorney, Muwaganya has handled several High-Profile criminal cases including the charging of Aaron Baguma, his then District Police Commander in the case where businessman  Muhammad Sebuwufu was found guilty of murdering businesswoman Betty Dona Katusabe, the Prosecution of former Makerere University  Lecturer Dr Stella Nyanzi for cyber harassment and offensive communication,  Captain Mageni Bumali and others for the murder of the Eritrean Daniel Michael Weldu, Prosecution of the case involving the murder of Maria Nagirinya, prosecution of Businessman Frank Gashumba, Maj General Matia Kyaligonza for assaulting police officers.

Others include the prosecution of the late lawyer  Bob Kasango on theft charges and businessman Francis Onebe who is accused of murder and dumping the body of his wife in a septic tank.

Muwaganya is also among the prosecutors involved in the case in which Ministers Agness Nandutu, Lugoloobi and Mary Goretti Kitutu are accused of diverting iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people of Karamoja for their benefit.

He is also currently on the prosecution team handling the murder of businessman Henry Katanga.

********

URN