Corrupt state lawyers to be retired, says DPP

KAMPALA - The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Lino Anguzu has warned that any state prosecutor who will be found guilty of corruption through the internal disciplinary mechanism is going to be retired in public interest.

Anguzu gave the caution while responding to questions from journalists about the increased complaints of corruption among the prosecutors during a press briefing at his Workers House based offices in Kampala on Friday, May 22, 2026.

Anguzu convened the press conference to announce the annual prosecutors’ symposium and the 8th Joan Kagezi memorial lecture, which will take place next week from May 25-29 at Hotel Africana and Commonwealth Resort Hotel in Munyonyo, respectively.  

“I receive those complaints, and I acknowledge that they are there and we are handling the individual cases as they come, but as an office, we are taking steps and measures to ensure that we curb this quickly,” Anguzu said.

Without revealing the number, Anguzu noted that several prosecutors have been under probe and some of them are going to be retired in public interest while others face demotion or caution.

“For the specific cases that have been reported, we have investigated them and this morning I was just considering disciplinary actions, we are taking against very many prosecutors that have been reported, some of them, we are going to retire them, some we are going to warn them, some we are going to demote them but all these are efforts to curb the vice,” Anguzu said.

Anguzu added, “If a prosecutor who is supposed to render free services to you doesn’t, the solution is not to succumb, insist on your rights and raise it with us, we shall take action.”

However, Anguzu appealed to the public to also stop corrupting the prosecutors. “If you have a society that doesn’t have integrity, you are just fighting a losing battle. So, if you refuse to be corrupted, there is no way the prosecutors can be corrupt,” Anguzu said.

Citing President Yoweri Museveni’s inauguration address on May 12, 2026, in which he vigorously announced that this term will focus on fighting corruption, Anguzu said his office is committed to the mission.

“We are yet to sit and design new strategies to promote this strategy in addition to the internal mechanisms to ensure that our prosecutors are more than efficient and they have more integrity in what they do,” Anguzu said.

Underscoring the importance of the annual prosecutors’ symposium, Anguzu said one of its objectives is to discuss such complaints with the prosecutors and chart a way forward.

Anguzu added, “If a prosecutor who is supposed to render free services to you doesn’t, the solution is not to succumb, insist on your rights and raise it with us, we shall take action.” (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Concerning the ongoing investigations against the outgoing Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, Anguzu said they are offering legal support to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) as it continues to comb through evidence in relation to the corruption allegations against her.

“It is too early for me to comment on what is happening, but all I can tell you is that there is an ongoing investigation by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and we are providing background support, and when the time is due, we shall update you,” Anguzu said.

On the possibility of re-opening the mabati theft charges against Among that were dropped about two years ago, Anguzu said, “We are not reopening the case. Those cases were considered by the office unless there is new information that merits the re-opening of the case, which I am not privy to yet. When it comes, we shall make the decision accordingly.”

Commenting on the withdrawal of the charges against the state minister for finance, Amos Lugolobi, and MPs Cissy Namujju, Paul Akamba and Yusuf Mutembuli, while maintaining those of Agnes Nandutu, which many have described as selective prosecution, Anguzu said every case is reviewed before it is prosecuted.

“Every case before it is prosecuted is reviewed by not more than one officer before a charge is preferred. So, there is an internal review mechanism, and if a charge is wrongly preferred, there is another review mechanism by a senior officer to see whether there is a change in circumstances that warrants dropping the charges,” Anguzu said.

Concerning the court martial cases which the Supreme Court ordered to be transferred to the ODPP for handling, Anguzu said they have since received over 40 files and reviewed them.

“Some of them required panel beating because the procedures in the court martial are completely different from those in the civilian courts. A number of those cases were investigated by the army, and they are not amenable to prosecution by the civilian court. So, how can I take up a case investigated by the military?” Anguzu said.

For those where he feels there is insufficient evidence, Anguzu said the production warrant will soon be issued for the suspects to be released.

“The Supreme Court made the decision, but it didn’t specify who should transfer them. I can’t withdraw or take over those cases. This is the conundrum we are facing unless the court martial transfers them. I am afraid I cannot take up those matters,” Anguzu noted.

Anguzu advised the suspects whose cases have not been transferred to his office to engage the chairman of the Court Martial over it since the army court has since been reconstituted.

Concerning the prosecutors’ symposium, Anguzu said it serves as an important annual platform for prosecutors to discuss the emerging crime trends to effectively handle them.
So, next week, there will be no hearing of the criminal cases involving prosecutors from the DPP across the country as they will be attending the symposium.

Anguzu said that he has since notified the judiciary about the development. He said the cases which had been fixed will be rescheduled.

Anguzu said the 8th Joan Kagezi memorial lecture will take place on May 29 at the Commonwealth Resort Hotel in Munyonyo, and President Museveni has been invited as the chief guest.  

Kagezi was gunned down by armed men on March 30, 2015, in what is suspected to be a retaliatory action for her boldness in prosecuting the criminals.