The founder of Teso Talent Foundation, Boniface Eyagu, has been sentenced to one year in prison after admitting to misusing Shs 3.1 million meant to pay school fees for vulnerable children in the Teso sub-region.
Eyagu was convicted by the Ngora Grade One Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to charges related to the misuse of funds provided by sponsors based in the United Kingdom.
The sponsors had entrusted Eyagu, through his organisation, with Shs 3.5 million to pay school fees for 10 pupils at Vienna Nursery and Primary School.
However, prosecutors told court that Eyagu paid only Shs 400,000 to the school and used the remaining Shs 3.1 million for personal expenses.
The matter came to light after the donors raised concerns over inconsistencies in accountability reports submitted by Eyagu following the transfer of funds.
The sponsors contacted the school directly and discovered that it had not received the full amount intended for the sponsored pupils.
During police investigations, Eyagu admitted receiving the money and acknowledged using the balance for his personal benefit.
When he appeared before Magistrate Isaac Boniface Abilu, Eyagu pleaded guilty and asked for leniency, promising to refund the money within one month.
The prosecution asked the court to impose a deterrent sentence, arguing that the misuse of donor funds could undermine the confidence of development partners and affect future support for vulnerable communities.
In his ruling, Magistrate Abilu said the offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison but considered Eyagu’s guilty plea and cooperation with investigators as mitigating factors.
The magistrate, however, said Eyagu had been entrusted with protecting the interests of vulnerable children but had instead abused that trust.
He said the sentence should also discourage others from misusing funds intended for vulnerable beneficiaries.
The court sentenced Eyagu to one year in prison and ordered him to refund the Shs 3.1 million to the UK donors within two months.
Having already spent one day on remand, Eyagu will serve the remaining 11 months and 29 days of his sentence.