Charity founder jailed for stealing Shs 3.1m meant for vulnerable pupils in Teso

What the report says

The founder of Teso Talent Foundation, Boniface Eyagu, has been sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to stealing donor money meant to pay school fees for vulnerable pupils in Uganda’s Teso sub-region, according to The Observer. The case was heard by the Ngora Magistrate’s Court, where prosecutors said the funds had been donated by UK-based sponsors for children at Vienna Nursery and Primary School.

Court records cited by the newspaper say the donors had given Eyagu Shs 3.5 million to cover tuition for 10 pupils, but only Shs 400,000 reached the school. The remaining Shs 3.1 million was reportedly diverted for personal use. The case came to light after the donors questioned inconsistencies in accountability reports and checked directly with the school.

Eyagu admitted receiving and using the money during investigations and pleaded for leniency, saying he was willing to repay it. The magistrate said his guilty plea and cooperation justified a reduced sentence, but stressed that the misuse of money for vulnerable children was a serious breach of trust. In addition to the prison term, the court ordered him to refund the Shs 3.1 million within two months.

The Observer also reported that Eyagu is facing separate investigations in Soroti and Kapelebyong districts over alleged fraud involving the same donors. The case highlights wider concerns about accountability in charity work and the impact of fund misuse on education support for disadvantaged communities.