Byandala corruption trial resumes

The hearing of a case in which former works minister Abraham Byandala and five others, accused of causing financial loss of over sh24.7b meant for the upgrade of Mukono-Katosi road resumes today.

Byandala's co-accused include three former Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) officials; Berunado Ssebbugga, 54, (former Acting Executive Director), Joe Ssemugooma, 54, (Acting director finance and Administration), Marvin Baryaruha, 45, (legal counsel).

Others are city businessman Apollo Senkeeto, 45, and a former Housing Finance Bank official Isaac Mugote.

The accused are battling 24 counts of abuse of office, disobedience of lawful orders, influence peddling, causing financial loss, corruption, theft, obtaining money by false pretences, uttering of false documents, conspiracy to defraud, obtaining execution of a security by false pretences and aiding and abetting the offence of causing financial loss.  

Justice Lawrence Gidudu, the head of Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court is presiding over the case.

Sarah Birungi, Brenda Kimbugwe and Thomas Okoth are prosecuting the case while lawyers -Nsubuga Mubiru, Maxi Mutabingwa, Ivan Engoru, Norah Kagwa, David Mpanga and William Were are defending the suspects.