Akankwasa fails to pay sh30m bail
May 16, 2011
THE former head of the National Forestry Authority, Damian Akankwasa, is still being held in Luzira prison after he failed to pay sh30m for bail.
By EDWARD ANYOLI
THE former head of the National Forestry Authority, Damian Akankwasa, is still being held in Luzira prison after he failed to pay sh30m for bail.
Akankwasa was last week charged with abuse of office and causing financial loss of sh2b to the forestry body.
Anti-Corruption Court Magistrate Emmanuel Baguma ordered him to pay bail of sh30m and deposit a land title in his name and his passport in court.
He is to appear in court tomorrow for bail review.
Akankwasa has contested terms, saying they are extremely harsh and difficult to abide by.
He has asked the Anti- Corruption Division of the High Court to review the terms.
“Having been out of employment for over one year has left me with no source of income. I am unable to deposit the sh30m as a precondition for my release on bail,†Akankwasa said.
He argued that he is a law bidding citizen who on previous occasions was granted bail and duly complied with the terms.
Akankwasa was also charged with illicit enrichment in connection to a guest house worth sh580m on Plot 11, St. Balikudembe Road in Naguru, a Kampala suburb.
Prosecution led by Sarah Birungi from the Inspectorate of Government said the value of the guest house is not commensurate with Akankwasa’s earnings as a civil servant.
On the sh2b financial loss, Akankwasa is alleged to have flouted procurement regulations when he awarded over 100,000 cubic metres of round wood from Katugo Central Forest Reserve for harvest at sh62,500 each instead of 82,500 to Nile Plywood Uganda.
THE former head of the National Forestry Authority, Damian Akankwasa, is still being held in Luzira prison after he failed to pay sh30m for bail.
Akankwasa was last week charged with abuse of office and causing financial loss of sh2b to the forestry body.
Anti-Corruption Court Magistrate Emmanuel Baguma ordered him to pay bail of sh30m and deposit a land title in his name and his passport in court.
He is to appear in court tomorrow for bail review.
Akankwasa has contested terms, saying they are extremely harsh and difficult to abide by.
He has asked the Anti- Corruption Division of the High Court to review the terms.
“Having been out of employment for over one year has left me with no source of income. I am unable to deposit the sh30m as a precondition for my release on bail,†Akankwasa said.
He argued that he is a law bidding citizen who on previous occasions was granted bail and duly complied with the terms.
Akankwasa was also charged with illicit enrichment in connection to a guest house worth sh580m on Plot 11, St. Balikudembe Road in Naguru, a Kampala suburb.
Prosecution led by Sarah Birungi from the Inspectorate of Government said the value of the guest house is not commensurate with Akankwasa’s earnings as a civil servant.
On the sh2b financial loss, Akankwasa is alleged to have flouted procurement regulations when he awarded over 100,000 cubic metres of round wood from Katugo Central Forest Reserve for harvest at sh62,500 each instead of 82,500 to Nile Plywood Uganda.