Kigoma Municipal Officials Sentenced to 20 Years for Financial Misconduct
In a landmark legal ruling, the Kigoma Resident Magistrate’s Court has sentenced former Kigoma Ujiji Municipal Director Athuman Msabila and ex-municipal treasurer Frank Nguvumali to 20 years in prison for document forgery and money laundering.
The high-profile case involved 11 government officials accused of serious financial irregularities, including fraudulent document creation and misappropriation of public funds totaling approximately 463.5 million shillings.
During the verdict delivered on August 21, 2025, Resident Magistrate Misana Majula found Msabila and Nguvumali guilty on multiple charges. Specifically, Ferdinand Filimbi and Salum Saidi were sentenced to two years, while several other defendants were acquitted.
The investigation originated from a Prime Minister’s visit in September 2023, which uncovered potential financial mismanagement within the Kigoma Ujiji Municipal Council. A special audit was subsequently initiated to examine the council’s financial transactions and expenditures.
Key allegations included forging documents related to budget training, falsely claiming delivery of municipal equipment, and improperly transferring funds between government accounts. The prosecution presented 20 witnesses and 29 exhibits during the trial.
Specific charges involved fabricating documents to mislead authorities about public fund allocations, including training and development project funds. The court meticulously reviewed evidence of financial irregularities spanning from June 2022 to June 2023.
The verdict sends a strong message about financial accountability in local government, highlighting the consequences of misappropriating public resources.
