CHOGM: Ministers are innocent - PS

By Vision Reporter

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry of trade, industry and co-operatives, Julius Onen, has exonerated ministers, Sam Kutesa, Mwesigwa Rukutana and John Nasasira, of any wrong doing in a case where they caused of causing a financial loss to Government   of sh14b.

They are said to have committed the funds to the construction of the driveways, parking areas and the marina at Speke Resort Munyonyo in 2007 when Uganda hosted the Commonwealth Head of Governments meeting.

Onen, who was Permanent Secretary in the ministry of foreign affairs at the time Uganda hosted teh summit, told Justice Paul Mugamba that the meeting of December 17, 2005, was not irregulary convened because the Cabinet Sub Committee had directed that such a consultation takes place.

He added that the ministers never agreed that government spends over sh14b for the construction of drive ways and park ways at Munyonyo.

The three ministers deny causing financial loss to Government.

They are represented by City lawyers; Dr. Joseph Byamugisha, Didas Nkurunziza, Oscar Kambona, Edwin Karugire and Ahmed Kalule.

The prosecution is being conducted on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions by the Director of Legal Affairs Sydney Asubo from the Inspector General of Government.