“You can accuse Beatrice Byenkya of other things but fraud is not one of them,” says Edgar Tabaro, a partner in the top law firm Karuhanga, Tabaro Associates.
Tabaro is among those who vouch for the saintly pedigree of Beatrice Nyakaisiki Byenkya, the embattled chairperson of the Uganda Land Commission, who on Jan. 11 appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala and pleaded not guilty to counts of obstruction of search and abuse of office.
“Fraud is not in her DNA,” Tabaro told The Independent.
Some of her supporters point at how Byenkya’s rejected the Sh5 million given to each MP in the 7th parliament as inducement to change the Constitution and remove the presidential term limits.
But there are others who swear that Byenkya is no saint. Among them are three ministers, past and present at the Ministry of Lands, and several of Byenkya’s colleagues at the Uganda Land Commission.
Members of ULC who were happy to see Byenkya interdicted include Prof Jack H. Nyeko Pen-Mogi, Tom John Fisher Kasenge, Charles K. Muhoozi, Stella Achan, Bujara Rukiika, Haji Asuman Kyafu, and Hajat Madina Nsereko.
On October 7, 2021 these members of the ULC called for chairperson Byenkya’s interdiction, accusing her of misconduct.
