Sh60b BOU heist: Why 9 finance ministry officials are seeking case dismissal

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The nine finance ministry officials, including interdicted Accountant General Lawrence Ssemakula, who are facing corruption charges linked to the alleged shillings 60 billion Bank of Uganda (BOU) heist, have asked the court to discontinue proceedings against them.

The accused individuals argue that although they were charged last year, the trial has not yet commenced.

Ssemakula also faces charges of causing financial loss, money laundering and electronic fraud together with Jennifer Muhuruzi (commissioner of treasury services), Pedson Twesigomwe, (assistant commissioner accounts), Tony Yawe (senior IT officer), Paul Nkalubo Lumala (IT systems officer) and Deborah Dorothy Kusiima (senior accountant). Others are Judith Ashaba (accountant), Bettina Nayebare (research assistant accountant), and Mark Kasiiku (IT specialist). The accused persons are currently out of prison on bail.

Through their lawyers, led by Robert Mackay, the accused persons are seeking dismissal of the case for lack of prosecution, arguing that the prosecution’s failure to fix the matter for a hearing and commence trial has violated their fundamental right to a speedy trial.

The defence contends that since being charged, the accused have consistently reported to court as required, only for the state to repeatedly inform court that investigations are still ongoing. They argue that the prolonged delay, without any meaningful progress toward trial, has caused undue prejudice and uncertainty to the accused, amounting to an abuse of the court process.

According to the defence, keeping the accused under the burden of criminal charges indefinitely, while no trial dates are fixed, undermines the constitutional guarantee of timely justice and cannot be justified by prolonged investigations.

On February 10, 2026, the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court, presided over by Justice David Makumbi, directed both parties, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and lawyers for the accused, to file and serve their written submissions within three days from the date (February 10, 2026) of the order.

The court further directed that the rejoinders be filed within two days from the date of service of the written submissions. According to the order, once all submissions are filed, both parties shall appear before Justice Makumbi on March 3, 2026, for adoption of the submissions.

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that Ssemakula and Muhuruzi between January and October 2024, at the finance ministry at 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 purported 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 (shillings 22.5 billion) 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 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 (shillings 1.4 billion), 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.