Former Uganda Netball Federation (UNF) president, Sarah Babirye Kityo, faces charges of fraudulent false accounting, resulting in her remand to Luzira Prison. Kityo, arrested on Wednesday, appeared before Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opito in the Anticorruption Court in Kampala on Thursday, denying the charges. The court granted the prosecution leave to verify the identity documents of Kityo’s sureties, including her husband, Mr. Daniel Ntare, who is also the director of Jodana Sports Management.
State prosecutor Gloria Inzikuru requested more time for verification, citing confusing residences and a lack of business identification by the sureties. Magistrate Opito remanded Kityo until December 1 to rule on her bail application. Kityo’s lawyer, Joseph Luzige, argued for bail, emphasizing her fixed abode and substantial sureties. The charges relate to alleged false accountability of Shs186 million between November and December 2021, released by the National Council of Sports to the UNF for pent series and African National Championship in Namibia.
This development follows First Lady Janet Museveni’s order to keep Kityo out of office amid accountability questions, leading to her suspension. In October 2023, Museveni instructed the National Council of Sports to withdraw the certificate of recognition from UNF if accountability requirements weren’t met. Earlier this year, meetings chaired by Museveni recommended Kityo take a leave of absence pending investigations. However, Kityo returned to office in July, leading to further controversy and intervention by security personnel.
