The Anti-Corruption Court has remanded two senior officials from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to Luzira Prison after they were arraigned on charges of abuse of office in a fresh anti-graft prosecution targeting public officials accused of misusing their positions.
The accused, Patrick Okello, the Commissioner for Refugees Management at the Office of the Prime Minister, and Noel Ikwap, an Assistant Information Technology Officer at the same institution, appeared before Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe, who ordered that they be remanded until August 10, 2026.
The two officials will return to court at 10:00 a.m. on that date for the mention of their case and the hearing of their respective bail applications.
The prosecution was instituted by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), which said the charges form part of its continued efforts to enforce accountability and uphold the rule of law in the management of public affairs.
Although the prosecution did not publicly disclose the particulars of the alleged abuse of office during the court appearance, the case adds to a growing list of corruption-related prosecutions involving senior public officials entrusted with the management of critical government institutions.
The Office of the Prime Minister, particularly the Department of Refugees, plays a central role in coordinating Uganda’s refugee response, managing refugee settlements, and working with international development partners and humanitarian agencies. Uganda hosts one of Africa’s largest refugee populations, making integrity within the department a matter of significant public interest.
During the proceedings, the Inspectorate of Government fielded a prosecution team led by Mikka Luteete, Principal Officer Prosecutions, alongside Diana Nantabazi, Principal Officer Litigation, and Pius Kaweesi, an Inspectorate Officer, who led the prosecution on behalf of the anti-corruption agency.
The prosecution opposed the release of the accused at this stage, resulting in the court remanding both officials to Luzira Prison pending the hearing of their bail applications.
The Inspectorate of Government said the prosecution demonstrates its unwavering commitment to combating corruption, abuse of office, and other forms of misconduct in public service.
“The prosecution of the two officials underscores the Inspectorate of Government’s unwavering resolve to combat corruption and abuse of public office,” the agency said in a statement following the court proceedings.
The latest prosecution comes as anti-corruption agencies continue to intensify investigations and criminal proceedings against public officials suspected of violating laws governing the use of public authority.
Abuse of office is one of the offences frequently prosecuted under Uganda’s anti-corruption legal framework and generally involves a public officer improperly exercising the authority of their office in a manner that is prejudicial to the interests of the government or another person.
A conviction can attract severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines, disqualification from holding public office, or other sanctions depending on the circumstances of the case and the applicable law.
The remand of a Commissioner responsible for refugee management is likely to attract close public scrutiny given the strategic importance of Uganda’s refugee programme, which receives substantial financial support from international donors and humanitarian organizations.
Over the years, the Office of the Prime Minister has periodically come under the spotlight over allegations relating to the management of refugee affairs, prompting repeated calls for stronger oversight, accountability, and transparency in the handling of refugee-related programmes and resources.
The latest prosecution signals that investigators are continuing to pursue criminal accountability against officials suspected of abusing positions of public trust regardless of their seniority within government.
The case will resume before the Anti-Corruption Court on August 10, 2026, when the magistrate is expected to hear the accused persons’ applications for bail before giving further directions on the progress of the criminal proceedings.
For now, both Patrick Okello and Noel Ikwap remain on remand at Luzira Prison.
The charges against the two officials have not yet been tested in court, and under Ugandan law, they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
