PACEID Official Remanded on Money Laundering Charges, Museveni's Daughter Attends Court

Matthew Bagonza, the head of the secretariat at the Presidential Advisory Committee on Export and Industrial Development (PACEID), has been remanded to Luzira Prison. He faces charges of money laundering and abuse of office.

Appearing before the Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday, Bagonza, 39, did not enter a plea as his defense lawyers questioned the court’s jurisdiction. The Director of Public Prosecutions personally sanctioned the charge sheet. Bagonza is expected to remain in custody until October 05, 2026, pending further court directions.

The prosecution alleges that in January 2024, while in his role, Bagonza abused his authority by improperly establishing a private company called “Presidential Initiative on Export and Industrial Development.” The state claims this private entity was designed to replicate PACEID’s functions, thereby harming the interests of the Ugandan government.

Additionally, Bagonza is accused of money laundering. The state contends that between September 1, 2023, and August 30, 2026, he and others not yet identified transferred funds from a PACEID account at Housing Finance Bank to his personal account. Prosecutors argue these transactions were intended to conceal the illicit origin of the money.

The court session garnered significant attention due to the presence of First Daughter Bishop Patience Rwabwogo and her husband, Mr. Odrek Rwabwogo, who is the chairperson of PACEID. The couple remained in attendance for the duration of the proceedings. Mr. Bagonza is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)