Trial of former Western Cable accountant over sh3.7b fraud resumes Monday

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The trial of a former Western Cable Limited accountant accused of embezzling sh3.7 billion from the company will resume on Monday, March 9, 2026.

Juliet Asiya Namuli faces charges alongside two co-accused, identified as Robert Kimbowa and Joanita Nakatudde. The charges involve theft, conspiracy and money laundering.

The case will be presided over by Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga. So far, 34 prosecution witnesses have testified.

Prosecution’s case

The prosecution alleges that between January 2012 and December 31, 2016, while Namuli was employed as an accountant at Western Cable Company Limited, she stole shillings 1.7 billion to which she had access 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, she stole shillings 1.3 billion.

Prosecution further alleges that Namuli and Kimbowa, between August 2015 and December 2016, at Western Cable Company Limited offices on Sixth Street in Industrial Area and at DFCU Bank in Kampala, stole another sh751 million from the company.

Namuli and Kimbowa were also charged with the offence of 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 laundered shillings 1.7 billion between December 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016, knowing that it was stolen money.

Laundered money

It is further alleged that Namuli and Kimbowa laundered another shillings 751 million through DFCU Bank account number 01443553554618 in the names of Westerner Cables Uganda Limited.

The prosecution states that they knew at the time they received the money that it was proceeds of crime from a cheque that Namuli allegedly stole from Western Cable Company Limited.

The prosecution, led by Chief State Attorney Abigail Agaba from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), states that Namuli and Kimbowa conspired to steal funds from Western Cable Company Limited.

It is also alleged that on May 30, 2018, at Letshego offices in Kampala, Nakatudde used land comprised in Busiro Block 459 Plot 547 at Katale in Wakiso district as security to borrow shillings 30 million, yet she knew that when she acquired the property, it was proceeds of crime.

The prosecution alleges that she later sold and transferred the property, comprising Block 459 Plot 547 at Katale, to Violet Tusiime.

The accused denied the charges and are currently out on bail.