Kampala. The Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday charged the Kyegegwa District chairman, Mr Norman Birungi, and his deputy, Latif Ibrahim Amanya, with abuse of office, nepotism and conflict of interest.

The duo, who appeared before Grade I magistrate Agnes Alum, was arrested on Monday by the Inspectorate of Government and detained at Kampala Central Police Station.

Mr Amanya was charged with one count of nepotism and abuse of office.

Prosecution claimed that in April 2014 after failing or neglecting to disclose the nature and extent of his personal interest, Mr Amanya participated in a district executive committee meeting which discussed the distribution of heifers to beneficiaries under the Luweero-Rwenzori development programme.

Prosecution adds that Mr Amanya went on to participate in the meeting with the purpose of favouring a list of some of the beneficiaries of his blood relations, which is contrary to the Anti-Corruption Act.

Mr Birungi was charged with 11 counts of nepotism and abuse of office.

Prosecution argued that in the course of his tenure as chairman, he arbitrarily in abuse of office of authority, disregarded guidelines for the generation of the list of beneficiaries under this programme and submitted for approval the list of beneficiaries prepared by district officials instead of a list prepared by sub-county chiefs.

The duo was released on a cash bail of Shs4 million and Shs5 million respectively after pleading not guilty. Court set hearing of the case for April 28.