Sh60b heist case pre-trial starts today
Prosecution alleges that Ssemakula and Muhuruzi, between January and October 2024, at the finance ministry in Kampala, 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.
The accused include Jennifer Muhuruzi, 55, (Commissioner, Treasury Services); Pedson Twesigomwe, 45, (Assistant Commissioner, Accounts); Tony Yawe,46, (Senior Information Technology (IT) Officer); and Paul Nkalubo Lumala, 40, (an IT systems officer). (New Vision/Files)
KAMPALA - The pre-trial hearing of a case in which former Accountant General Lawrence Ssemakula and eight finance ministry officials are accused of corruption over an alleged sh60b heist involving Bank of Uganda funds starts today (October 12) at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.
The accused are also facing charges of causing financial loss, money laundering and electronic fraud
The accused include Jennifer Muhuruzi, 55, (Commissioner, Treasury Services); Pedson Twesigomwe, 45, (Assistant Commissioner, Accounts); Tony Yawe,46, (Senior Information Technology (IT) Officer); and Paul Nkalubo Lumala, 40, (an IT systems officer).
The others are: Deborah Dorothy Kusiima, 33, (senior accountant); Judith Ashaba, 43, (accountant); Bettina Nayebare, 31, (research assistant accountant); and Mark Kasiiku, 33, (IT specialist).
The pre-trial process is intended to resolve uncontested matters before the main trial, enabling court proceedings to focus on issues that remain in dispute
Allegations
Prosecution alleges that Ssemakula and Muhuruzi, between January and October 2024, at the finance ministry in Kampala, 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.
Yawe is accused of irregularly altering the payment instructions for sh22.5b that was supposed to be paid to 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.
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 International Development Association, and instead it was paid 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, by means of deception and with the intention of securing a gain, deliberately manipulated the payment instruction files of the integrated financial management system by altering the payment details from International Development Association Washington, who was the intended payee, $6,674,320 (sh24.5b), to an unintended payee in the name of International Development Association Sielska, Poznan, Poland.
According to the prosecution, Yawe abused the authority of his office by allegedly committing an arbitrary act, which is prejudicial to the interests of his employer (Government)
On the other hand, Kasiiku is accused of introducing executable scripts into the Oracle programme on the integrated financial management system that resulted in unauthorised payment of $8,596,824 (sh31.5b) to MJS International London, between September 23, 2024 and September 27, 2024.