Government recovers sh71b from corrupt officials

PIC: Acting Deputy Chief Justice Remmy Kasule shakes hands with the Head of Anti-Corruption Court Justice Lawrence Gidudu. This was after the launch of the Anti-Corruption Week 2017 at Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo, Kampala on December 7. (Credit: Ramadhan Abbey)

The Government has recovered sh71.4b from corrupt officials through plea bargaining and post-conviction orders since the inception of the Anti-Corruption Court in 2008.

The information is contained in a booklet published by the Anti-Corruption Court detailing the amounts recovered and the names of officials who were ordered to refund the money.

The booklets were given to people who attended the open day of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court held under theme "Restoring integrity in Public Service. Regaining citizenship trust in the anti-corruption fight".

The event was held in the Anti-Corruption Court premises in Kololo, Kampala.

The platform was used to receive feedback from the public and also provided platform for anti-corruption agencies to interact on how to consolidate achievements in the fight against corruption and explore better ways of fighting corruption.

Plea bargain is a negotiated agreement between the prosecution and a defendant, where by the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser offence in exchange for a lenient sentence.

The prominent officials who were forced to refund money include the former permanent secretary of Public Service, Jimmy Lwamafa and two others, and Samuel Wanyaka (former director of budget at Parliament).

In July 2008, the then principal judge, James Ogoola, administratively established the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court to handle corruption-related cases. The division started in December 2008.

The establishment of the Anti-Corruption Division was a deliberate step by the Judiciary to take drastic action against the corrupt.

Remmy Kasule, the acting Deputy Chief Justice lauded the Anti-Corruption Court for making compensation orders from money stolen from government coffers, saying it is good for the public.

He said the street children cannot be looked after because the resources of the country are being swindled by corrupt people.

"It is the ordinary and speechless people who pay the price because of corrupt tendencies of government officials," he said.

George Bamugemereire, the deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), said they have saved the loss of sh36b in one year and recovered sh1.6b from public officers. He adds that they have prosecuted 101 people and secured 24 convictions.