Rains push Nataka case to January

Nov 16, 2015

The maiden hearing of a case in which the former Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) Secretary General, Michael Nataka, is charged with abuse of office, has been pushed to January, due to the heavy rains

By Betty Amamukirori

The maiden hearing of a case in which the former Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) Secretary General, Michael Nataka, is charged with abuse of office, has been pushed to January, due to the heavy rains.


On Monday, the Anti-Corruption court grade one magistrate, Julius Borore adjourned the case to January 18, 2016, after the heavy morning rain delayed the state attorney from attending court.

After waiting in vain, for several hours for the rain to stop, Borore was forced to push the case to next year.

In May this year, Nataka who is currently on bail, was charged with two counts of abuse of office, making false declarations in relation to illegal transportation and taxation evasion for a motor vehicle using privileges accorded to the humanitarian agency.

Prosecution led by Harriet Angom alleged that in 2013 between February and June, at the URCS headquarters in the city suburb of Rubaga, Nataka did an arbitrary act prejudicial to his employer.

It is alleged that he allowed the importation of a motor vehicle Toyota Tundra belonging to an individual, in the same container transporting consignment belonging to URCS thereby trying to  benefit from the favorable freight considerations that URCS  enjoys, contrary to URCS principles.

Prosecution purported that between May and June 2013 while at the URCS headquarters, Nataka sought exemption of taxes from Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) for the vehicle.

He allegedly declared on the customs bill of entry that the vehicle was part of a list of vehicles for which URCS sought tax exemption, yet he knew that the vehicle did not belong to URCS.

In October 2013, Nataka was grilled by Police over allegations that suspected smuggled goods were imported into the country disguised as those of the humanitarian agency.

Police reports showed that Nataka imported goods valued between sh500m and sh800m using the URCS' name. The goods were found at his home in the city suburb of Munyonyo.

However, Nataka maintained his innocence, claiming that the goods belonged to Red Cross and only ended up at his residence due to exceptional circumstances.

Meanwhile, the hearing of the prosecution case was scheduled to start on November 16, 2015, but the heavy rains cut off the state attorney handling the matter and the witnesses from attending court, forcing Borore to forward it to next year.

Also related to this story

Former Red Cross boss Nataka granted bail

Red Cross writes to Museveni over Nataka

Red Cross 'dismisses Nataka, two others'

Red Cross boss probed over smuggling
 

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