Former Uganda President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya

Bukenya who was the chairman of cabinet sub-committee on CHOGAM faces charges of abuse of office. He has also been sued jointly with Motor Care Uganda LTD on alleged charges resulting from fraudulent practices.

His trouble arises from the procurement of vehicles which were used during the CHOGM in which government lost 6 billion shillings.

Bukenya is accused of ordering direct procurement of BMW cars from Motor Care Uganda Ltd in an alleged highjack of procurement process by stopping international biding.

According to the charges sheet that is before the Anti-corruption court, Professor Gilbbert Bukenya is now being accused of high handiness that was against the interests of the government.

Bukenya has however insisted over time that the decision to make the said procurement was made by the committee and not him as an individual.

Grade I magistrate Sarah Langa has how summoned Bukenya to appeared before Anti-corruption court on June 15^th 2011.

Bukenya was recently dropped from the position of vice president and is still battling in court for the Busiro North parliamentary seat.

Ultimate Media

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former NSSF boss David Chandi-Jamwa (R) and his Deputy Prof. Mondo Kagonyera

But what surprised many was the additional penalty.  Katutsi gave a verdict that former National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Managing Director David Jamwa Chandi should not be employed in any public office within 10 years after serving other 12 years in prison.

Katutsi said that being a highly learned person, Jamwa, 40 committed the fraud intentionally therefore he should not serve in a public office before the end of 10 years after serving the prison sentence.

Jamwa’s lawyer David Mpanga pleaded to the Justice that his client be given a lighter sentence, saying jamwa had no previous criminal record. Justice Katutsi said 12 years sentence in prison is a lenient punishment according to the gravity of the case.

Katutsi added that according to the UN campaign against corruption the penalty was not hash for Jamwa who once headed the most financially liquid body in the country.

Jamwa was accused of selling the government bonds before maturity and selling them cheaply to Crane Bank. Mpanga says they will appeal the sentence.

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Jamwa now faces the possibility of a 14 years sentence or fine of 6.7 million shillings or both, but he will be a happier man given that he was acquitted of the major charge.

David Jamwa Chandi after arrest

Justice John Bosco Katutsi of the Anti Corruption Court who has been presiding of the trial of Jamwa’s case, found the former manager guilty of selling NSS bonds before the maturity date.

Katutsi said that Jamwa is a man well schooled in investment in treasury bonds, and to say that he was not aware that his actions would result into loss to NSSF would be to underestimate his intelligence.

The Judge however acquitted Jamwa of abuse of office. Katusi said prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Jamwa did an arbitrary act which was prejudicial to the interest of the Fund when he gave Crane Bank the mandate to sell NSSF’s bonds.

He ruled that the bonds were sold through a process which was approved by then Minister of Finance Dr. Ezra Suruma who agreed the bonds be sold in order to work on the new proposal to increase the yield of the Fund.

“From their evidence for one to turn round and say the accused person acted arbitrary would be a terrible assault of common sense. I would with respect and in agreement with assessors find accused person not guilty on this count and acquit him,” the Judge said.

Sydney Asubo, the prosecutor from the the Inspector General of Government (IGG) told Court that between September and November 2007 Jamwa caused a financial loss of 13 billion shillings to NSSF by selling bonds before their maturity.

Jamwa was sent to prison until March 9 when he re-appears in Court for sentencing.

Ultimate Media

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Works Minister - John Nasasira

It is however not yet clear whether Bagonza will serve the sentences concurrently or consecutively. Justice John Bosco Katusi of the Anti Corruption court has ruled that Bagonza was a senior civil engineer and a professional engineer but did not follow the procurement procedures as required by law.

The court found engineer Bagonza guilty of causing a financial loss of 1.6 billion shillings to the government of Uganda during the construction of the Entebbe highway between Zzana and Kibuye during the 2007 CHOGM preparations.

By Walakira Nyanzi, Ultimate Media

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Justice John Bosco Katutsi

This followed a guilty conviction by Anti Corruption Court judge, Justice John Boscon Katutsi who found Bagonza guilty of causing financial loss to the government and failing to follow orders while overseeing the construction of roads ahead of CHOGM.

Katutsi found Bagonza guilty of causing the government of Uganda financial loss of over 1.6 billion Uganda shillings meant for reconstruction of road works on Entebbe road, among other counts.

Bagonza is the first high ranking government official to be convicted over CHOGM scandals resulting from the misuse of CHOGM funds. Many official and unofficial reports have shown gross abuse of funds, procurement and investment during the time Uganda invested hefty amounts of money head of the Commonwealth meeting.

After the ruling at the Court in Nakawa, Bagonza through his lawyer McDusman Kabega requested for Court to give him a lighter sentence, arguing that he did not use any funds or make decisions for personal benefit, is of advanced age and suffers from acute pressure.

Bagonza pleaded for a reduction in the sentence to a caution or fine, instead of a custodial sentence and Justice Katutsi remanded him further to Luzira until Tuesday when he (Katutsi) will deliver the final judgment of the sentence.

By Ultimate Meida

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Mpanga also appealed to the anti-corruption court to avail him with all the necessary documents to enable him defend his client well over cases of abuse of office and mismanagement of public funds when he was the NSSF boss.

David Jamwa Chandi

Jamwa who faced the Uganda Anti-corruption court on Wednesday, 23rd June 2010 was denied bail after being arrested on Tuesday for trying to escape out of the country at the Eastern Uganda border post with Kenya.

The Chief magistrate of the Uganda Anti-corruption court in Kampala Irene Akankwasa says she has no powers to give bail to David Jamwa.

Jamwa who is remanded in Uganda Luzira prison is needed to answer charges related to the procurement of integrated management system, misuse of credit cards, procurement of stockbrokers, purchase of the controversial Temangalo land, status of Nsimbe holdings, sale of immature bonds, mismanagement of salary allowances and advances and investments of fixed deposits among others.

The charges arise from the Auditor’s Generals report ordered by President Yoweri Museveni. Jamwa’s former Deputy Prof. Mondo Kagonyera who is also the Makerere University is wanted to answer the same charges. Kayonyera says he isn’t scared of answering the charges.

Also see

Former Uganda NSSF chief Jamwa arrested trying to leave country

Who is David Chandi Jamwa?

By Solomon Akugizibwe, Ultimate Media

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