The founder of Teso Talent Foundation has been sentenced to one year in prison after admitting to stealing donor funds that had been provided to educate vulnerable children in the Teso sub-region.
Boniface Eyagu was convicted by the Ngora Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to charges of theft stemming from the misappropriation of money donated by sponsors based in the United Kingdom to pay school fees for disadvantaged learners.
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Court heard that the case began after the donors noticed irregularities in accountability reports submitted by Eyagu whenever funds were sent through his organisation. Their suspicions prompted them to contact the management of Vienna Nursery and Primary School to verify whether the sponsored pupils had received the intended support.
The inquiry revealed that the school had received only a fraction of the money meant for the beneficiaries.
According to the prosecution, the donors had entrusted Eyagu with Shs3.5 million to clear school fees for ten pupils. However, he paid only Shs400,000 to the school and diverted the remaining Shs3.1 million for personal use.
Investigators told court that Eyagu admitted receiving the money and acknowledged using the balance for his own benefit.
Appearing before Magistrate Isaac Boniface Abilu, Eyagu pleaded guilty and appealed for a lenient sentence, promising to refund the money within one month.
He told the court that he regretted his actions and asked for forgiveness, saying he was responsible for supporting his wife, young child and elderly parents.
The prosecution, however, urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, arguing that the misuse of donor funds undermines public trust and discourages development partners from investing in programmes that support vulnerable communities.
The state further noted that the intended beneficiaries were school-going children whose education depended on the financial assistance.
In his ruling, Magistrate Abilu observed that although the offence carries a maximum penalty of ten years’ imprisonment, Eyagu’s decision to plead guilty and cooperate with investigators justified a lighter sentence.
The magistrate said Eyagu had been entrusted with resources intended to improve the lives of vulnerable children but instead abused that trust for personal gain.
He added that the sentence was meant to serve as a warning to others handling funds intended for charitable causes and vulnerable beneficiaries.
The court sentenced Eyagu to one year in prison and ordered him to refund the stolen Shs3.1 million to the UK-based donors within two months.
Having already spent one day on remand, he will serve the remaining 11 months and 29 days of his sentence.
Eyagu is also reportedly under separate investigations in Soroti and Kapelebyong districts over alleged fraud involving the same group of UK-based donors.
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