UJCC Leadership Under Fire as Shs 2.5 billion Fraud Investigation Shakes Religious Council

By Amos Ssemuwemba

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit is investigating leaders of the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) for allegedly defrauding President Museveni in a Shs 2.5 billion project that failed to materialize. Rev Fr. Constantine Mbonabingi and Rev Fr. Daniel Musiitwa are at the center of the probe.

The project, titled “Peace Support and Security Protection in the Greater Masaka Region,” was meant to enhance security, but investigators say it never took off. Despite Shs 300 million being disbursed by State House in June 2023, the funds were allegedly diverted by UJCC officials.

In October 2021, UJCC representatives, including Church of Uganda Archbishop Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, met with President Museveni to request funding for this project and Shs 7 billion for another initiative. However, key UJCC board members were absent from the meeting, raising suspicion.

The Shs 300 million was deposited into a new UJCC bank account, with Mbonabingi and Musiitwa as signatories. State House suspended further payments after receiving complaints from UJCC members. Investigators are now focused on how the funds were used and why a new account was created without informing Bishop Anthony Zziwa, the UJCC chairperson.

“This is a gross abuse of public funds and a violation of trust,” said a State House source. Fr. Mbonabingi has yet to respond to the allegations.