______________

The trial of a former Western Cable Company Limited employee accused of stealing shillings 3.7 billion from the company resumes Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Juliet Namuli Asiya is facing the charges alongside two others: Robert Kimbowa and Joanita Nakatudde, before Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga at the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.

Justic Kajuga last month fixed the case for further hearing, for more witnesses to testify.

It is alleged that between January 2012 and December 31, 2016, while Namuli was employed as an accountant at Western Cable Company Ltd, stole shillings 1.7 billion which she had access to by the virtue of her employment.

In the second count, it is alleged that between January 2014 and December 2016 at Western Cable company Ltd at Industrial Area, in Kampala, Namuli stole shillings 1.3 billion.

Prosecution alleges that Namuli and Kimbowa in August 2015 and December 2016, at the Western Cable Company Limited offices on Sixth Street Industrial Area and dfcu Bank in Kampala, stole yet another shillings 751 million from the company.

Namuli and Kimbowa are also facing charges of money laundering contrary to section 3 (c) 116 and 136(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. According to the prosecution, the duo and others still at large from December 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016, laundered shillings 1.7 billion yet they knew that it was stolen money.

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

Prosecution said the accused knew that at the time they received the money it was a proceed of crime, from a cheque that Namuli allegedly stole from Western Cable Company Ltd.

Prosecution led by Abigail Agaba at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said Namuli and Kimbowa conspired to steal funds from Western Cable Company Ltd

It is alleged that Nakatudde on May 30, 2018, at Letshego offices in Kampala, used land comprised in Busiro Block 459 Plot 547, land at Katale in Wakiso district as security and borrowed shillings 30 million, yet she knew that at the time of acquiring the property it was a proceed of crime.

Prosecution said, she later sold and transferred the property comprised in Block459 Plot 547 at Katale to Violet Tusiime. They denied the charges.

Western Cable Company Ltd manufactures cables for domestic use and industrial lighting.

What the law says

A person found guilty of embezzlement is liable to imprisonment up to 14 years or a fine of shillings 6.7 million or both.  

Under Section 3 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, any person convicted of the offence of money laundering is liable to 15 years’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding shillings 2 billion.

Under section 309 of the Penal Code Act, any person convicted under the Act is liable to three years imprisonment. The offence of theft under Section 254 the Penal Code Act carries 10 years on conviction.