Col. Bantariza was a star performer, says witness
Sep 27, 2014
A state witness has told the General Court Martial which is trying Col. Shaban Bantariza, that the accused was an excellent performer at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi district.
By Pascal Kwesiga
KAMPLA - A state witness has told the General Court Martial which is trying Col. Shaban Bantariza, that the accused was an excellent performer at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi district.
Maj. Peter Oscar Ajoket, the former NALI administrative officer was the tenth state witness in a case in which Bantariza is accused of having committed fraud offences during his tenure as the institute’s director.
He described his former boss as sterling performer.
Ajoket, who the state was relying on to pin Bantariza on six counts of fraud, told court chaired by Maj. Gen. Levy Karuhanga in Makindye on Thursday that senior UPDF officers who attended refresher courses at NALI during Bantariza’s tenure were amazed by his style of leadership.
“He [Bantariza] was a very excellent performer when it came to instructions and he ensured that they are followed to the letter. I had no problem with him while I worked at NALI although there were a few administration flaws on his part,” he said.
The army man stated during examination by state prosecutor, Capt. Gerald Bamwitirebye that Bantariza purchased more vehicles and reconstructed the institute’s structures including a dining hall and a slaughtering house during his short tenure.
Bantariza served as NALI’s commandant between 2009 and 2011.
The army court has been trying Bantariza for offences relating to documents, forgery, ill treatment of a subordinate, conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline and fraud since last year after a special investigation team implicated him in fraudulent activities.
President Yoweri Museveni cancelled Bantariza’s appointment as deputy executive director of the Government’s media center after he was charged with the offences.