Jinja Engineer Accused of Stealing UGX 2 Billion from American Investor

(Jinja) – If there is one thing Ugandans know how to do well, it is survival by any means necessary. But Engineer Stephen Bogere, the pride of Jinja, and his trusted dog handler, Wycliffe Ntende, might have taken this survival instinct a bit too far. The duo found themselves on the wrong side of the courtroom drama this week, facing charges for a crime straight out of a Nollywood plot: the theft of UGX 2 billion worth of property from an unsuspecting American investor, Eric Krane Scott.
Now, this is not your everyday Ugandan theft case – no Matooke stolen from the garden or missing jerry cans here. We are talking about two men, one of whom is a celebrated engineer in Jinja, being paraded before court like they were auditioning for roles in a crime movie. On September 18, 2024, the State House Anti Corruption Unit (SHACU), in collaboration with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) and the Crime Intelligence Directorate (CID), marched them into court before Magistrate Yafesi Ochieng.
What could these two possibly have done? Well, according to SHACU spokesperson Natasha Mariam, Bogere, Ntende, and their yet to be found accomplices allegedly formed a Kagolo (conspiracy) to swipe UGX 2 billion worth of property. This was not a case of loose change from the market. They are accused of making off with motor vehicles, household goods, and even land – all belonging to Scott, an American entrepreneur who made the bold decision to try his luck investing in Jinja. Turns out, it wasn’t just the local traffic jams that would give him headaches.
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Ntende, the dog handler by day and alleged thief by night, was first to feel the courtroom heat. Facing two counts, his first charge was for theft of household items, and the second, the juicier one, had him and his boss Bogere jointly charged for the theft of a flashy red Mitsubishi Eclipse (yes, you read that right – a Mitsubishi, not a boda boda).
For the uninitiated, Ntende’s role in the heist raises eyebrows. This wasn’t a man in a three piece suit managing the investor’s accounts; he was, as fate would have it, a humble dog handler. The man tasked with keeping the investor’s dogs in line was apparently also the brains behind this billion shilling operation.
Accused
Role
Charges
Stephen Bogere
Engineer
Conspiracy to Commit Theft
Wycliffe Ntende
Dog Handler
Theft of Household Items & Mitsubishi Eclipse
When the magistrate read out the charges, Ntende wasted no time in pulling out his trump card – not a well crafted defense, mind you, but an appeal to sympathy. With the air of student who had just been caught sneaking an extra plate of posho at lunch, he pleaded for leniency, citing his poor health and that of his wife, who, he claimed, had undergone surgery just two weeks ago. According to Ntende, without him, his family might just crumble like a poorly made chapatti.
And yet, Magistrate Ochieng was not one to be easily swayed by Ntende’s theatrics. The court decided that both men were to be remanded to Kirinya Prison until October 17, 2024. Ntende’s pleas didn’t fall entirely on deaf ears. The court agreed to hear his bail application on that same day. After all, everyone deserves their day in court – even if they have allegedly driven off with a shiny red car.
One has to wonder what poor Eric Krane Scott must be thinking as he watches this drama unfold from the sidelines. He probably came to Uganda with dreams of juking (enjoying) some nice mukene by the shores of Lake Victoria, only to find himself wrapped in a courtroom battle, his UGX 2 billion worth of property scattered to the wind like chaff from a millet harvest. For now, he will have to wait and see if the Ugandan justice system can untangle his case.
For Bogere and Ntende, this is only the beginning of their courtroom saga. With another month to stew in Kirinya Prison, they will have plenty of time to reflect on their life choices – perhaps even consider if their engineering and dog handling careers were really worth throwing away for a Mitsubishi and some household trinkets.
Table – Key Events in the Jinja UGX 2 Billion Theft Case
Date
Event
February – July 2024
Alleged theft takes place in Walukuba Masese
September 18, 2024
Bogere and Ntende arraigned before court
October 17, 2024
Hearing date set for both the charges and bail plea