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Five suspects arrested in connection with attempts to defraud investors and forgery at the energy ministry offices in August this year have been charged.

The suspects were on Tuesday charged with four counts of forgery, uttering false documents, impersonation and conspiracy to commit a felony.

The five accused persons were remanded to Luzira Prison while four energy ministry head of petroleum Spero Byokunda, businessman Emmanuel Byamukama, Jausa Kwitonda and Allan Musinguzi dodged court.

The accused persons appeared before City Hall Grade One magistrate Edgar Karakire and denied the charges.

However, the accused persons, through their lawyers led by David Kamukama attempted to apply for bail but it was rejected by the magistrate on grounds that the offences they are charged with are serious and rampant and, therefore, he could not grant them bail.

The seven were arrested after they allegedly attempted to defraud a Serbian national at the energy ministry offices.

The nine including Byokunda; Doreen Mugisha and Barbara Kyobutungi office messengers at the ministry, Goerge Byomugabe; Emmanuel Byamukama, John Bosco Mugisha and Frank Kiggundu appeared before City Hall Court and denied the charges. but and Byamukama Byokunda dodged court.

Kwitonda and Musinguzi were not on the original chargesheet but the magistrate instructed state attorney Mercy Khaidara Yamangusho to amend the charge sheet and add them.

The allegations

On the first count, of forgery contrary to Section 342 of the Penal Code Act, the state alleged that Byomugabe, Mugisha and others during the month of August 2023 in Kampala district with intent to defraud, forged confirmation for the supply of LED-based solar street lights system from the energy ministry purporting himself as the chairperson special contracts committee from the ministry whereas not.

On the second count of uttering false document contrary to Section 92(b) of the Penal Code Act, the state alleged that Byomugabe and others during the month of August 2023, at the ministry, knowingly and fraudulently uttered a procurement document Ref:MEMD/WRKS/22-23/003/4, confirmation for the supply of LED-based solar lighting one Ljuba Samardizc a Serbian national purporting that it was approved by the special contracts committee.

On the third count of impersonation contrary to Section 92(b) of the Penal Code Act, the state alleged that Byomugabe during the month of August 2023, at the ministry falsely presented himself to be a person employed in the public service as the chairperson Special Contracts Committee and confirmed the supply of the LED-based solar lighting system to Samardizc, whereas not.

On the fourth charge of conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to Section 390 of the Penal Code Act, the state alleged that Byokunda, Byomugabe, Byamukama, Mugisha, Doreen, Kiggundu, Kyobutungi, Kwitonda and Musinguzi during the month of August in Kampala conspired together to commit a felony to wit, arranged a meeting between a Serbian investor Samardzic, who wanted to undertake energy-related project at Amber House with intend to defraud him.

Byokunda and other suspects were arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) after they allegedly arranged a meeting between, ‘ministry of energy officials’ and the Serbian investors who wanted to undertake renewable energy-related projects at Amber House inside the ministry’s boardroom.

The investors arrived in the country in August and allegedly met Byokunda after he together with others reportedly lured them to come and invest in Uganda. Byokunda allegedly promised them he would arrange a meeting between them and energy minister Ruth Nankabirwa and the technical people.

However, they became suspicious after attending one of the meetings chaired by Byomugabe they were asked to part with some money.