By Spy Uganda
The Head of the Secretariat at the Presidential Advisory Committee on Export and Industrial Development (PACEID), Matthew Bagonza, has been charged with abuse of office and money laundering and remanded until October 5, 2026.
Bagonza, 39, appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday but did not take plea after his lawyers challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
According to a Uganda Police charge sheet dated September 16, Bagonza is accused of abusing his office in January 2024 by ”irregularly registering and incorporating” the Presidential Initiative on Export and Industrial Development, a private limited company.
Bagonza also faces a money laundering charge over the alleged transfer of UGX171.725 million from an account held in the name of the Office of the President-Presidential on Export and Industrial Development to his personal account at Housing Finance Bank’s Kololo branch.
The alleged transactions took place between September 1, 2023 and August 30, 2026.
Prosecution alleges that Bagonza and others still at large transferred the money with the intention of concealing or disguising its illicit origin, while knowing or having reason to believe that it represented proceeds of crime.
The charges follow Bagonza’s arrest in August amid a dispute surrounding PACEID and its leadership.
Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba had publicly questioned the legality of PACEID’s operations and later confirmed Bagonza’s arrest.
PACEID chairman Odrek Rwabwogo subsequently said he sought clarification from President Yoweri Museveni, who, according to Rwabwogo, said he was unaware of Bagonza’s arrest and had not ordered it.
The Anti-Corruption Court remanded Bagonza until October 5 at 10:00am, when the case is expected to return for further proceedings.
