Embattled city lawyer Agaba Maguru and businessman Rtd Capt. Charles Byaruhanga are under fresh scrutiny after investigations reportedly linked them to an alleged racket accused of extorting money from tea nursery operators in Kanungu District.
According to sources within the State House Anti-Corruption Unit familiar with the ongoing investigations, part of the government funds disbursed through Pathways Advocates allegedly ended up on accounts linked to Maguru and Byaruhanga. The two are said to be caretakers of Kigezi Highland Tea Factory in Kabale District, a property belonging to the late businessman James Musinguzi Garuga.
Investigators also allege that the duo worked closely with lawyer Kiconco Katabazi, who is already under investigation over the alleged misappropriation of Shs39 billion from NAADS funds that were originally intended to compensate tea growers in the Kigezi sub-region.
The developments follow a strongly worded directive by President Yoweri Museveni ordering an immediate halt to what he described as the extortion of tea nursery bed operators in Kanungu by individuals operating under Pathways Advocates.
In a letter dated February 22, 2026 and addressed to Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Museveni expressed concern over reports that tea nursery operators were being compelled to surrender part of the government funds intended to support their activities.
“I am writing to direct you to stop crooks operating under a lawyers’ firm known as Pathways Advocates involving one Kyichooncho Patrick Katabazi that is extorting money from the tea nursery growers,” Museveni wrote.
The President questioned the legality and justification of the alleged deductions from beneficiaries’ payments.
“Who is he to extort money from our people? What did he do to deserve this money? It is the Government that gave the money to our people,” the President added.
Museveni further raised concerns about possible collusion by government officials who may have facilitated the deductions from the beneficiaries’ payments.
“Who are the collaborators of the extortioners in the Government? How do they manage to deduct 30 percent from the recipients’ payments?” the letter reads in part.
The President directed the Attorney General to immediately stop what he termed as theft and ensure that all intended beneficiaries receive their full entitlements without unlawful deductions.
Copies of the directive were also sent to the Inspector General of Government and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, signaling the possibility of a wider investigation into the handling of funds under government tea support programmes.
The scandal is expected to place renewed scrutiny on the management of agricultural support programmes in the tea sector, particularly in Kanungu District, one of Uganda’s major tea-growing areas.
If the allegations are confirmed, investigators believe the scheme could expose an elaborate network involving private actors, lawyers and insiders within government institutions accused of siphoning funds meant to support small-scale tea nursery operators.
Neither Pathways Advocates nor Kyichooncho Patrick Katabazi had publicly responded to the allegations by press time.
Authorities are now expected to establish whether criminal laws were violated during the processing and disbursement of the funds.
Maguru and Byaruhanga are also battling several court cases related to the alleged fraudulent sale of property belonging to the late James Musinguzi Garuga in Nakaseke District, as well as accusations of forging company documents to unlawfully take over parts of the Garuga business empire.
English 