Pension Scam: Bail application hits snag

(L-R) Christopher Obey, Stephen Kiwanuka and Jimmy Lwamafa wait at Court of Appeal Kampala for hering of their bail application today. Photo by Racheal Nassuuna

Hearing of a bail application by three convicted former employees of Public service ministry has failed to kick off at the court of appeal for lack quorum.

This was the second time, the hearing of the case flopped after the head of the panel of three justices and also the Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma has been reportedly indisposed.

The quorum for hearing of the criminal appeal is supposed to be composed of three justices.

On November 11, 2016, the Anti-Corruption Court convicted and sentenced Jimmy Lwamafa to seven years, Stephen Kiwanuka Kunsa (five years) and Christopher Obey (10 years) for diverting and causing financial loss of sh88b to government.

High Court Judge, Lawrence Gidudu, also ordered them to refund to government sh50b of the stolen money.

Court of Appeal registrar, Didas Muhumuza informed parties in the case that Kavuma was indisposed due to official duties and the hearing of the case could not take off.

"The head of trial justices is indisposed due to official duties. The hearing dates would be communicated to both parties in the case" Muhumuza said.

In their appeal, the trio contends that they were dissatisfied with the High Court judgement and had resolved to challenge it.

Court observed that the scheme to steal the Shs88.2b was hatched in the public service ministry, smoothened in finance ministry and executed at Cairo Bank where the money was finally paid out to ghost pensioners.

The convicts are currently serving their sentence at Luzira prison.

Meanwhile, the three convicts are still battling other cases before Justice Margaret Tibulya of the Anti-Corruption Court for alleged fraudulent payment of sh5.4b to a city lawyer Bob Kasango in purported legal costs.

They are jointly charged with Kasango and a court clerk Milton Mutegeya.