Kampala, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — In a recent development, Sarah Babirye Kityo, the former president of the Uganda Netball Federation (UNF), finds herself facing charges of fraud related to an alleged false accountability of Shs186 million. Kityo, who was re-arrested on Wednesday evening, appeared before Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opito at the Anticorruption Court in Kampala on Thursday, vehemently denying charges of fraudulent false accounting.
The magistrate decided to remand Kityo until December 1 for a ruling on her bail application, citing the need for the prosecution to verify the documents provided by her sureties. This decision followed a request by state prosecutor Gloria Inzikuru, who sought additional time to authenticate the identity documents presented by Kityo’s sureties, expressing concerns about confusing residences and unclear financial status.
Inzikuru informed the court that investigations into the case were still ongoing. Kityo, represented by her lawyer Joseph Luzige, applied for bail, emphasizing her fixed place of abode within the court’s jurisdiction and the substantial nature of her sureties. Luzige argued that his client had not evaded charges despite ongoing investigations by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Auditor General, and the Criminal Investigations Department.
According to the charge sheet, between November and December 2021, Kityo and others allegedly engaged in making false accountability in request to Shs186,374,110 released by the National Council of Sports to the Federation for pent series and African National Championship in Namibia.
This legal turmoil follows the directive of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, who ordered the National Council of Sports (NCS) to keep Kityo out of office amid questions of accountability, leading to her suspension. The directive, dated October 4, 2023, urged NCS to withdraw the certificate of recognition from UNF if they failed to meet the requirements of a national sports federation.
Earlier meetings chaired by Janet Museveni had called for Kityo to take a leave of absence until investigations by the auditor general’s office and the Police’s Criminal Investigations Department concluded. Despite this, Kityo returned to office on July 21, causing tension at the federation offices and involving security personnel and government officials.
