‘ODPP’s Bagada lost less that sh129million’

Kampala, Uganda | URN | The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has disputed media reports that Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Alex Bagada was robbed of Shs129 million, describing the reported amount as grossly exaggerated as police continue investigating the suspected robbery.

In a press statement dated October 27, 2026, ODPP spokesperson Jacquelyn Okui confirmed that Bagada was a victim of a suspected robbery on October 8, but said the incident occurred at Alchemist Restaurant and Bar, where he had gone for dinner, rather than at a sauna as reported by some media reports.

“The actual amounts of money involved are significantly less than what is stated in the report and will only be confirmed upon conclusion of the criminal investigations,” Okui said. The ODPP also disputed reports that Bagada had a bank balance of approximately Shs570 million, saying the figures circulating in the media were inaccurate and did not reflect the actual amounts involved.

Okui said the matter was formally reported to the Uganda Police Force on October 10 and remains under investigation. The clarification follows a report by ChimpReports titled “Assistant DPP Alex Bagada Drugged, Robbed of Shs129m by Woman After Sauna Encounter,” which alleged that the senior prosecutor lost money and personal belongings following an encounter with an unidentified woman.

According to the publication, Bagada was later found unconscious near Lubiri Secondary School in Wakaliga, Kampala, in the early hours of October 9 and taken to hospital for treatment. The report further alleged that substantial sums of money were withdrawn from his bank account through mobile banking.

These details have not been independently established, and the ODPP has not disclosed the actual amount allegedly stolen or provided further details about the circumstances of the incident. ChimpReports previously reported that police had opened an aggravated robbery investigation and sought forensic assistance to retrieve CCTV footage from Alchemist Restaurant and Bar in Bugolobi.

According to the publication, a letter dated October 12 from Kampala Metropolitan Police investigators requested assistance from the police Cyber Crime Unit to obtain CCTV footage from the establishment. A second letter, dated October 13, reportedly sought access to the recordings from the restaurant’s management.

The footage was expected to assist investigators in establishing Bagada’s movements and reconstructing the events surrounding the suspected robbery. The publication also quoted Bagada confirming that police were investigating the matter, but he declined to provide further details, referring journalists to the investigators. No arrests had been publicly reported in the accounts reviewed for this story.

Okui expressed concern that the media coverage had shifted attention from the suspected criminal conduct to speculation about the circumstances of the incident and the amounts of money involved. “The ODPP respects the ongoing investigative process and appeals to members of the media and the public to refrain from commenting on matters that may prejudice the ongoing investigations,” she said.

She criticised what she described as irresponsible and sensational reporting, urging journalists to uphold accuracy, fairness, professionalism and sensitivity when reporting cases involving victims of crime. “Whereas we acknowledge and respect the media’s vital role in informing the public and promoting accountability, the ODPP calls upon media practitioners to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, professionalism, and sensitivity in their reporting,” Okui said.

Bagada heads the ODPP’s Homicide Division, which is responsible for managing homicide cases, guiding investigations and coordinating related prosecutions. The ODPP said it remained committed to the fair administration of justice and safeguarding the rights and dignity of all persons, including victims of crime. Police investigations into the suspected robbery are ongoing.