Ugandan businessman charged over UGX 800m procurement scam

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, on Wednesday arraigned Muyomba Ashiraf, Executive Director of Hongera Saana Uganda Ltd, before the KCCA Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges of obtaining goods by false pretence, forgery, and uttering false documents. He was remanded until December 10, 2025.

According to prosecutors, between December 2024 and April 2025, Hongera Saana Uganda Ltd, operating from Minister’s Village, Ntinda in Nakawa Division, Kampala, falsely presented itself as a “Presidential Mobilisation Body for Peace and Development” under the Office of the President. The organisation allegedly placed fraudulent newspaper advertisements inviting suppliers to bid for the delivery of various goods.

Muyomba reportedly identified suppliers and entered into contracts with them, including Ms Nasali Shillo of Kisco International Limited and Mr Kezimbira Isaac of K.K.N Enterprises Limited. The two firms were contracted to supply goods valued at nearly UGX 800 million.

After delivering the items to Hongera Saana Uganda’s offices in Minister’s Village, Ntinda, the suppliers’ attempts to secure payment were unsuccessful. The goods supplied included thousands of kilograms of maize, soya, groundnut, and rice seeds; posho; cooking oil; sugar; mattresses; metallic double beds; farmate spray pumps; knapsacks; teardrops; branded T-shirts; umbrellas; caps; and branded backdrops, among others.

Investigations have since confirmed that Hongera Saana Uganda Ltd had no affiliation whatsoever with the Office of the President, contradicting the allegations made in the fraudulent bid advertisements.