Police in Kabale District have arrested three suspects over the alleged theft of Shs 65,095,000, money belonging to the Kabale Municipality Elected Leaders Emyooga SACCO.
The suspects have been identified as Mwesigwa Ignatius, 38, Speaker Southern Division and resident of Omukirwa Cell, Karubanda Ward, Southern Division, Kabale Municipality – and chairperson of the SACCO, Akatukunda Susan Abby, 44, Councillor Southern Division and resident of Nyakakika Cell, Karubanda Ward, Southern Division, Kabale Municipality – and secretary of the SACCO and Tumwakire Francis, 45, salesman and resident of Kijurera Cell, Bukoora Parish, Kitumba Sub-county, Kabale District – and treasurer of the SACCO.
According to Police, the trio, all office bearers in the SACCO, allegedly conspired between 22nd March 2023 and 27th September 2024 to steal Shs 65,095,000 from Centenary Bank Kabale branch, account number 3202647544, the property of the Kabale Municipality Elected Leaders Emyooga SACCO.
On 4th November 2024, SACCO members reportedly discovered that the money had been withdrawn and put pressure on the chairperson, Mwesigwa Ignatius, who in turn reported the matter at Kabale Central Police Station.
Police recorded statements from key witnesses, retrieved relevant documents from the SACCO, and obtained a bank statement showing the disputed transactions for evidential purposes.
Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson confirmed the development and said that the questioned withdrawal slips and specimen signatures were later submitted to handwriting experts for analysis.
Maate said that based on the expert report, the Resident State Attorney (RSA) Kabale sanctioned the file with 29 counts of theft against the suspects, who are now pending arraignment before court for plea.
