By Our Reporter
A senior police officer has been remanded to Luzira Prison after appearing in court on charges of theft involving building materials worth over Shs17 million.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Begira Avido, who serves as a human resources officer in the Wamala policing region, was on Thursday arraigned before the Makindye Magistrate’s Court following his arrest by the Anti-Corruption Unit (AntiGraft_SH), in coordination with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).
According to Anti-Corruption Unit, SP Begira is accused of stealing construction materials, including iron sheets, poles, and bags of cement, from a one Kato Bumali on February 10, 2023, at Kanaaba Zone in Makindye Ssabagabo, Wakiso District.
The materials, allegedly valued at approximately UGX 17 million, were intended for a private building project. Prosecutors say SP Begira unlawfully took them “with impunity,” exploiting his position and refusing to respond to multiple summons from his superiors when the complaints first surfaced.
Sources within the Uganda Police Force reveal that the officer had repeatedly defied internal disciplinary summons, prompting the intervention of the Anti-Corruption Unit. His eventual arrest and arraignment mark a significant step in ongoing efforts to address corruption and abuse of office within the security forces.
The presiding magistrate ordered that SP Begira be remanded to Luzira Prison until June 19, 2025, when he is expected to reappear for further proceedings.
The case has sparked public debate on police accountability and the urgency of rooting out impunity within the force. Anti-corruption advocates have applauded the swift coordination between agencies and urged continued transparency as the trial progresses.
