Finance ministry commissioner seeks dismissal of sh60 billion BoU case

________________

One of the nine finance ministry officials accused in the sh60 billion Bank of Uganda (BoU) case has filed an application seeking to have the charges against her dismissed.

Jennifer Muhuruzi, the commissioner for treasury services, through her lawyer Mackay Robert, has filed Miscellaneous Criminal Application No. 75 of 2026, arguing that the trial has been subjected to excessive delay.

Muhuruzi is among nine finance ministry officials, including interdicted Accountant General Lawrence Ssemakula, who are facing corruption charges linked to the alleged sh60 billion Bank of Uganda heist.

Other accused persons are Pedson Twesigomwe, assistant commissioner for accounts; Tony Yawe, a senior IT officer; Paul Nkalubo Lumala, an IT systems officer; and Deborah Dorothy Kusiima, a senior accountant.

Others are Judith Ashaba, an accountant; Bettina Nayebare, a research assistant accountant; and Mark Kasiiku, an IT specialist. The accused persons are currently out on bail.

In an affidavit sworn by Muhuruzi and dated February 11, 2026, filed before Justice David Makumbi at the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court, she states that since she was charged on February 4, 2025, the case has not progressed.

She contends that the matter has repeatedly come up for mention without investigations being concluded, a move she argues violates her constitutional right to a speedy trial.

According to Muhuruzi, the case has been mentioned and adjourned eleven times without the prosecution taking reasonable steps to commence the trial.

“My Lord, after ten mentions over almost a year, there has been no trial date, no evidence tendered, and no end in sight. This pattern is inherently prejudicial and unfair. The Constitution mandates a speedy hearing. It is not enough to leave the accused in limbo indefinitely,” Mackay said.

Mackay argues that Article 28(1) of the Constitution guarantees every accused person a fair and speedy trial, adding that once charges are filed, the prosecution must commence proceedings without undue delay.

The court further directed that rejoinders to the application be filed, adding that the ruling will be delivered at a later date.

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that Ssemakula and Muhuruzi, between January and October 2024, at the finance ministry on Plot 2-8, Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road in Kampala city, neglected to put in place effective systems to safeguard public funds, which resulted in a financial loss of $6,525,852 (about sh23.9b) to the Government.

It is alleged that Twesigomwe, Kusiima and Lumala, between September 9 and 11, 2024, at the finance ministry headquarters in Kampala, participated as accomplices in the commission of the offence of corruption when they allegedly concealed the irregular payment of $6,134,137 (sh22.5b) to an unauthorised payee in the name of Roadway Company Limited.

Yawe is accused of irregularly altering the payment instructions for sh22.5b that was supposed to be paid to the International Development Association for principal and interest by substituting the intended payee with Roadway Company Limited, purporting it to be payment for recycling plant and machinery, for purposes of illicitly obtaining benefits for the said company.

He allegedly committed the offence between September 9 and 11, 2024, at the finance ministry headquarters offices in Kampala.

Prosecution also alleges that between September 20 and October 1, 2024, at the finance ministry offices in Kampala, Kasiiku manipulated the payment instruction files in respect of $391,720 (sh1.4b), which was supposed to be paid to the International Development Association, to MJS International London, a company that was not entitled to the said payment.

Prosecution alleges that Yawe, in January 2024 at the finance ministry headquarters in Kampala, by means of deception and with intention of securing an unlawful gain, deliberately manipulated the payment instruction files of the Integrated Financial Management System by altering the payment details from the International Development Association Washington, who was the intended payee, of $6,674,320 (sh24.5b) to an unintended payee in the name of International Development Association Sielska, Poznan, Poland.

According to prosecution, Yawe abused the authority of his office by allegedly committing the arbitrary act, which is prejudicial to the interests of his employer, the Government.

On the other hand, Kasiiku is accused of introducing executable scripts on the Oracle programme on the Integrated Financial Management System that resulted in the authorised payment of $8,596,824 (Sh31.5b) to MJS International London between September 23, 2024 and September 27, 2024.

Yawe, Twesigomwe, Kusiima, Nayebare, Lumala and Kasiiku were also charged with money laundering, contrary to section 3(b), 116 and 136(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. The offence attracts a 15-year jail term or a fine not exceeding sh2b upon conviction.