The Anti-Corruption Court has remanded former Lira City Physical Planner Omara Geoffrey and prominent businessman Okello Lawrence over a string of charges related to illegal acquisition and encroachment on protected forest land.
According to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), the duo faces multiple charges including abuse of office, fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title, conspiracy to commit a felony, altering boundary marks, and illegally clearing and occupying a forest reserve for commercial purposes.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Anti-Corruption Unit detailed how Omara, while still serving as the city’s physical planner, forged official documents to facilitate the fraudulent acquisition of land within the Lira Central Forest Reserve.
“Omara Geoffrey extracted a forwarding letter dated 12th June 2018 addressed to the Secretary, Lira District Land Board, falsely indicating that the physical planning committee had approved an application for leasehold title on the Lira Forest Reserve, whereas not,” the Unit revealed.
The letter was used to fraudulently process and procure a title deed on protected forest land, which was later transferred to businessman Okello Lawrence.
SHACU further noted that Okello went ahead to destroy part of the forest reserve by cutting down trees and pouring murram to drain the land in preparation for the construction of a petrol station.
Despite warnings from the Ministry of Water and Environment and a formal notice informing him that the land in question was part of a gazetted forest reserve, Okello continued with the construction.
“The Ministry of Water and Environment tried to stop the development, but Okello, backed by some local politicians, defied the directive and continued erecting the petrol station,” the Anti-Corruption Unit stated.
This is not the first time Omara has come under fire for questionable dealings. SHACU confirmed that he has previously been convicted twice on charges relating to illegal sale of government land within Lira City and Lira District.
The accused were arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala and subsequently remanded until May 6, 2025.
The Anti-Corruption Unit says the arrests are part of a broader effort to clamp down on illegal land acquisition and environmental degradation driven by corrupt officials in collusion with private developers.
“We are committed to protecting Uganda’s public resources and natural heritage from encroachers and fraudsters. No one is above the law,” SHACU emphasized.
Former Lira City Physical Planner Omara Geoffrey and businessman Okello Lawrence have been remanded over illegal acquisition and destruction of protected forest land.
