SFC Captain Remanded for Alleged Shs 200,000 National ID Bribe

Captain Yonasan Tibenderana of the Special Forces Command (SFC) is facing charges of obtaining money by false pretenses. The 35-year-old officer was brought before Nakawa grade one magistrate Rhoda Acham Ochom on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the accusations.

The prosecution alleges that on September 1, 2025, at the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) offices in Kololo, Kampala, Tibenderana accepted Shs 200,000 from a woman named Juliet Apio. He is accused of making this promise with no intention or ability to fulfill it.

Tibenderana’s legal counsel indicated readiness to apply for bail. However, the bail hearing could not proceed as there was no prosecutor present to provide an update on the ongoing investigation. Consequently, the magistrate ordered Tibenderana to be held at Luzira Prison until September 23, 2026, for the case’s mention, at which point his bail application might be considered.

Following his arrest last week, Tibenderana’s photograph was published on NIRA’s “Wall of Shame.” He was publicly labeled a conman, with a warning issued to the public against engaging with him. This action has also brought to light discussions regarding service delivery at NIRA, including public perceptions that unofficial intermediaries can sometimes facilitate faster access to services.

These issues arise amidst broader concerns about delays in the issuance and renewal of national identity cards. NIRA’s executive director, Rosemary Kisembo, recently informed parliament that staff shortages, partly due to the non-renewal of contracts for temporary staff hired for mass enrollment and renewal drives, have impacted service delivery.

https://observer.ug/news/sfc-captain-tibenderana-remanded-over-shs-200000-national-id-bribe