Embattled city lawyer Agaba Maguru and business man Rtd Captain Charles Byaruhanga are in trouble after an investigation by police discovered that the dual are part of the racket that have been extorting money from nursery tea operators from Kanungu .
According to a source at the State House Anti corruption unit knowledgeable about the investigation, Money paid by government through Pathways advocates have been ending up to the accounts of Maguru and Byaruhanga who are also the caretakers of the Kigezi high land tea factory located in Kabale district and belonging to late businessman James Musinguzi Garuga.
The two have been colluding with lawyer Kiconco Katabazi who is under probe for the misappropriation of. Shs39billion from NAADS originally meant to settle claims of tea growers from Kigezi region.
President Yoweri Museveni has since ordered an immediate halt to what he described as the extortion of tea nursery bed operators in Kanungu District by individuals operating under a Pathways law firm of Kiconco Katabazi.
In a strongly worded directive dated February 22, 2026, addressed to Attorney General Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, the President raised concerns about reports that tea nursery growers were being compelled to surrender a portion of government funds intended to support their operations.
Museveni specifically named Pathways Advocates and an individual identified as Kyichooncho Patrick Katabazi, questioning the legality and morality of demanding money from beneficiaries of a government programme.
“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 further questioned the basis upon which the alleged payments were being demanded.
“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 letter reads.
Museveni also expressed concern over possible collusion within government institutions, asking how the alleged extortionists were able to access and deduct funds meant for the beneficiaries.
“Who are the collaborators of the extortioners in the Government? How do they manage to deduct 30% from the recipients’ payments?” he asked.
The President directed the Attorney General to stop what he described as theft and ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive their full entitlements.
The matter has also been copied to the Inspector General of Government (IGG) and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, signaling the possibility of a broader investigation into the allegations.
The development is expected to shine a spotlight on the management of government support programmes in the tea sector, particularly in Kanungu District, one of Uganda’s key tea-growing areas.
If confirmed, the allegations could expose a sophisticated scheme through which private actors including Maguru, Byaruhanga also nursery tea operators working with insiders, siphoned funds intended to support small-scale tea nursery operators and promote agricultural development.
Neither Pathways Advocates nor Kyichooncho Patrick Katabazi had publicly responded to the allegations by press time.
Authorities are expected to investigate the claims and establish whether any laws were violated in the processing and disbursement of the funds.
Maguru and Byaruhanga are also facing several cases in different courts including the sale of late businessman James Musinguzi Garuga Land in Nakaseke and forging company documents to fraudulently take over the Garuga Business empire.
