Ugandan Catholic Priest Jailed 21 Years for Killing URA Officer

A suspended Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Dominic Alinga, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after admitting to the murder of former Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officer John Bosco Ngorok and the attempted murder of Moses Abigaba.

The sentence was handed down by the High Court in Entebbe on Friday, a day after Alinga pleaded guilty to both charges before Justice Flavia Nabakooza.

According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Alinga, who was formerly attached to Iriiri Parish in Napak District, was charged in October 2024 over the fatal attack that occurred on August 2, 2024.

Prosecutors told court that Alinga believed Ngorok had played a role in exposing information that led to his suspension from the priesthood. Acting on that belief, he reportedly invited Ngorok to a meeting before the two travelled together toward Entebbe.

During the journey, Alinga attacked Ngorok with a knife, repeatedly stabbing him. As Ngorok sought help with the assistance of Moses Abigaba, Alinga allegedly drove his vehicle into both men before fleeing the scene.

Ngorok, aged 30, later died from the injuries he sustained, while Abigaba survived the attack.

Investigators said Alinga attempted to destroy evidence before escaping to Tororo District, where he later confessed to another priest and surrendered himself to police.

Following his guilty plea on July 23, 2026, Justice Nabakooza convicted him on both counts and sentenced him to 21 years for murder and 10 years for attempted murder. The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning he will serve 21 years in prison. Abigaba was also awarded compensation.

The prosecution was led by Resident State Attorney Janet Kitimbo on behalf of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In a statement, the DPP praised the prosecutors and investigators whose work led to the successful conclusion of the case.

Police investigations had earlier revealed that Alinga had been suspended from the priesthood over allegations of misappropriating offertory collections amounting to Shs6 million.

After the killing, Alinga released a recorded statement on social media in which he denied intentionally murdering Ngorok. He claimed the pair had met in Entebbe to complete a land transaction and alleged that a dispute erupted after he discovered the money Ngorok presented was counterfeit.

Alinga further claimed that Ngorok became aggressive and threatened him with a knife inside the vehicle, insisting that the fatal stabbing occurred accidentally during a struggle. He maintained that he had acted in self-defense.

However, after spending nearly two years on remand awaiting trial, the suspended priest abandoned that defense and pleaded guilty to both charges, bringing the high-profile case to a close with his conviction and sentencing.