Col. Bantariza acquitted of fraud charges

By Michael Odeng                                        

The General Court Martial has acquitted the former director of National Leadership Institute (NALI) of fraud charges.

The court chaired by Maj. General Levi Karuhanga on Tuesday ruled that prosecution failed to prove that the tractor was a donation from the ministry of finance.

"Its alleged that the tractor was a donation but prosecution did not prove the alleged donation but brought witnesses who presented speculative evidences as to how the tractor moved to the institute," Karuhanga stated.

Karuhanga also told court that prosecution failed to prouduce a witness from the finace ministry during trial to testify against Bantariza on the alleged offences.

The court stated that following the requisition, a payment voucher was prepared by Amir Galimaso, the clerk of the institute  and the money was received by the third who said that he handed over the money to Bantariza.

The court also stated that prosecution evidence pinning Bantariza of employing high handed methods of administration and failing to adhere to principles of democracy which resulted into writing of anonymous letters by soldiers is illusive and lacks support of any tangible evidence.

Prosecution told court that Bantariza on February 3, 2010 received a tractor registration number UAN 652Z and its accessories at Akamba (U) Limited as a donation from finance mimistry but he instead altered documents to indicate that he (Bantariza) had bought the said tractor at sh67m.