News
Assessor’s absence delays trial of accountant in sh3.7b embezzlement case
On June 8, 2026, Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga adjourned the trial of Juliet Namuli, Robert Kimbowa and Joanita Nakatudde after Chief State Attorney Abigail Agaba informed court that one of the assessors, Gladys Katwe, was absent due to illness.
Assessor’s absence delays trial of accountant in sh3.7b embezzlement case
By: Edward Anyoli, Journalist @New Vision
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The trial of a former Western Cable Limited accountant accused of embezzling sh3.7 billion from the company has again been postponed following the non-appearance of one of the court assessors.
On June 8, 2026, Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga adjourned the trial of Juliet Namuli, Robert Kimbowa and Joanita Nakatudde after Chief State Attorney Abigail Agaba informed court that one of the assessors, Gladys Katwe, was absent due to illness.
A court assessor is a person who assists a judge during a trial by giving an independent opinion on the evidence presented in court. Assessors are usually not lawyers but are selected for their experience, integrity or understanding of community matters.
Agaba told court that proceedings could not continue in the absence of the assessors and therefore requested an adjournment.
“My Lord, I pray for an adjournment to a more convenient date to enable the assessor to recover,” Agaba said.
Namuli, together with her co-accused Kimbowa and Nakatudde, is facing charges of theft, conspiracy and money laundering.
Justice Kajuga granted the adjournment and fixed July 2, 2026, for the next hearing.
Prosecution case
It is alleged that between January 2012 and December 31, 2016, Namuli, while employed as an accountant at Western Cable Company Limited, stole sh1.7 billion, which she accessed by virtue of her employment.
“My Lord, I pray for an adjournment to a more convenient date to enable the assessor to recover,” Agaba said.
Namuli, together with her co-accused Kimbowa and Nakatudde, is facing charges of theft, conspiracy and money laundering.
Justice Kajuga granted the adjournment and fixed July 2, 2026, for the next hearing.
Prosecution case
It is alleged that between January 2012 and December 31, 2016, Namuli, while employed as an accountant at Western Cable Company Limited, stole sh1.7 billion, which she accessed by virtue of her employment.
In the second count, it is alleged that between January 2014 and December 2016, at Western Cable Company Limited in the Industrial Area of Kampala, Namuli stole sh1.3 billion.
The prosecution further alleges that Namuli and Kimbowa, in August 2015 and December 2016, at the company’s offices on Sixth Street in the Industrial Area and at DFCU Bank in Kampala, stole an additional sh751 million from the company.
Namuli and Kimbowa are also charged with money laundering, contrary to Sections 3(c), 116 and 136(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
According to the prosecution, the duo and others still at large, between December 1, 2013, and December 31, 2016, allegedly laundered sh1.7 billion, knowing or having reason to believe that the funds were proceeds of crime.
Laundered money
It is further alleged that Namuli and Kimbowa laundered another sh751 million through DFCU Bank using account number 01443553554618 in the names of Westerner Cables Uganda Limited.
Prosecution stated that they knew the money was proceeds of crime at the time it was received, originating from a cheque allegedly stolen by Namuli from Western Cable Company Limited.
The prosecution, led by chief state attorney Abigail Agaba from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), said Namuli and Kimbowa conspired to steal funds from Western Cable Company Limited.
It is further alleged that Nakatudde, on May 30, 2018, at Letshego offices in Kampala, used land comprised in Busiro Block 459 Plot 547 in Katale, Wakiso district, as security and borrowed sh30 million, knowing it was proceeds of crime.
The prosecution alleges that she later sold and transferred the property comprised in Block 459 Plot 547 at Katale to Violet Tusiime.
The accused denied the charges and are on bail.
The prosecution further alleges that Namuli and Kimbowa, in August 2015 and December 2016, at the company’s offices on Sixth Street in the Industrial Area and at DFCU Bank in Kampala, stole an additional sh751 million from the company.
Namuli and Kimbowa are also charged with money laundering, contrary to Sections 3(c), 116 and 136(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
According to the prosecution, the duo and others still at large, between December 1, 2013, and December 31, 2016, allegedly laundered sh1.7 billion, knowing or having reason to believe that the funds were proceeds of crime.
Laundered money
It is further alleged that Namuli and Kimbowa laundered another sh751 million through DFCU Bank using account number 01443553554618 in the names of Westerner Cables Uganda Limited.
Prosecution stated that they knew the money was proceeds of crime at the time it was received, originating from a cheque allegedly stolen by Namuli from Western Cable Company Limited.
The prosecution, led by chief state attorney Abigail Agaba from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), said Namuli and Kimbowa conspired to steal funds from Western Cable Company Limited.
It is further alleged that Nakatudde, on May 30, 2018, at Letshego offices in Kampala, used land comprised in Busiro Block 459 Plot 547 in Katale, Wakiso district, as security and borrowed sh30 million, knowing it was proceeds of crime.
The prosecution alleges that she later sold and transferred the property comprised in Block 459 Plot 547 at Katale to Violet Tusiime.
The accused denied the charges and are on bail.