By Edward Anyoli
Prosecution has lined up 15 witnesses to testify against the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government who is accused of causing financial loss of over sh4b.
State attorneys Marion Acio and Lillian Omara yesterday told the Anti-Corruption Court that prosecution will produce 15 witnesses to give evidence. Justice Catherine Bamugemereire is conducting the trial.
John Muhanguzi Kashaka and Henry Bamutura, the ministry’s principal accountant, are facing charges of causing financial loss and abuse of office.
Sam Erongot Emorut, Robert Mwebaze, Adam Aluma and Timothy Musherure, who were all members of the evaluation committee in the procurement of 70,000 bicycles, are jointly charged with abuse of office.
In a separate charge, Mwebaze, a principal procurement officer, is charged with neglect of duty.
Prosecution said Kashaka and Bamutura in the performance of their duty did an arbitrary act when they unlawfully authorised payment of $1,719,454.58 to M/S AITEL despite being informed by Bank of Uganda that documents presented by M/S AITEL were not in compliance with the terms of the letter of the credit.
On the count of abuse of office against Emorut, Aluma, Mwebaze and Musherure, prosecution said on November11, 2010 while employed as chairman, secretary and members respectively of the evaluation committee for the procurement of 70,000 bicycles, they acted arbitrarily when they recommended M/S AITEL’s bid as having met the requirement to supply the 70,000 bicycles. When the charges were formally read out to them on Monday, the accused denied them.
