Former Lira zonal land office boss, Francis Ateng slapped with 12 charges related to forgery of land documents

By Denis Okello (denis.okello@vol.co.ug)

Lira

The grade one magistrate court of Lira yesterday remanded, Francis Ateng who is the former principal Assistant secretary of Lira district land board, having slapped him with 12 charges related to forgery of land documents seeking to sale Uganda Railway Corporation land in Railway ward, Lira city East division.

Recently, detectives from the State House Anti-corruption unit arrested Francis Ateng and was being held in Kampala. However, he was Yesterday brought to Lira grade one magistrate court and appeared before the grade one magistrate, Pamela Percy Mary Nanyanzi.

Lira resident state attorney Peter Amalu read 12 charges against Ateng but pleaded not guilty to all of them.

Among the charges include; Francis Ateng with his colleagues including; Kabaizi Justus a businessman from Kamwenge district, Joseph Ocen a businessman from Lira city West division and Walter Ogangi a businessman from Mukono district forged documents of land located on plot 13 folio 13, Mukwano road in contravention of section 190 of Registration of Titles Act CAP 230.

Ateng and colleagues are also accused of forging land documents to register plots 42-50, Mukwano road in the names of Joseph Ocen contrary to section 190 of Registration of Titles Act CAP 230.

Ateng and colleagues are also accused offorging land documents between 2019/2020 and transferred plot 42-50 Mukwano road to the names of Ocen Joseph with claims that the former Managing director, Uganda Railway Corporation Charles Kateba had agreed that the land should be registered in the names of Ocen Joseph. Contrary to section 342 and 347 of the penal code Act cap 120.

Ateng and the same persons are also accused of forging documents between 2019/2020 wrote to the registrar of titles Bamwite Emmanuel which letter they claimed was for the transfer of plots 42-50 which document carried forged signatures of former Managing director of Uganda Railway Corporation Charles Kateba contrary to section 351 and 347 of penal code Act Cap 120.

Ateng and the same individuals are on the same note accused of forging documents for land tagged FRV 220 plot 13, Erute County which they claimed was sanctioned by Kateeba Charles whereas it was not the case, in violation of section 342 and 347 of penal code Act Cap 120 among other charges.

The lawyer representing Ateng, Ronald Otim asked court to release Ateng on court bail but the grade one magistrate Nanyanzi declined the request since the court lacks jurisdiction to release Ateng.

Nanyanzi asked Ateng to apply for bail before the Chief magistrate and remanded to Lira central government prison till today when he is expected to apply for bail.