Charity Director Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Stealing Orphaned Learners' Fees

Boniface Eyagu, the Managing Director of Teso Talents Foundation, will spend a year in prison for misappropriating funds meant for vulnerable children. Eyagu pleaded guilty to stealing Shs3.1 million that was donated by UK-based supporters to cover the school fees of orphans at Vienna Nursery and Primary School in Ngora District.

Eyagu received a total of Shs3.5 million through his DFCU bank account. However, he only remitted Shs400,000 to the school, keeping the remainder for personal use. His actions came to light when the school director contacted the donors directly and discovered the funds had been sent via Eyagu, leading to a police investigation.

During the court proceedings, the prosecution emphasized that while Eyagu has no prior theft convictions, his actions could deter future charitable donations to the country. They argued for a sentence that reflected the seriousness of defrauding children and potentially jeopardizing their educational future.

Eyagu pleaded for leniency, citing his responsibilities as a married father of a young child and a caregiver for his parents. However, Magistrate Isaac Boniface Abilu stressed the importance of protecting children’s interests and delivering a deterrent message to others. The magistrate noted that the convicted director failed in his duty to safeguard the pupils’ welfare.

In addition to the prison sentence, Eyagu has been ordered to repay the full Shs3.5 million to the donors within two months. Failure to comply will result in further legal action. Eyagu is also reportedly wanted in Soroti and Kapelebyong districts for separate alleged theft of Shs60 million from other international donors.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)