Ntabgoba Declines To Hear Bukoto MP Appeal
Dec 09, 2002
THE Principal Judge, Justice Herbert Ntabgoba, has declined to hear Lt. Mulindwa Birimumaaso’s appeal against the one- year jail term for embezzling sh24m.
By Hillary Kiirya
THE Principal Judge, Justice Herbert Ntabgoba, has declined to hear Lt. Mulindwa Birimumaaso’s appeal against the one- year jail term for embezzling sh24m.
Ntabgoba cited long-term friendship.
In a communication to the high court chief registrar, Ntabgoba said he had known Birimumaaso for a long time as a personal friend and he could not therefore hear the appeal.
“It would be unsafe for me to handle this appeal as our friendship may influence the decision where justice will not have been done,†Ntabgoba said.
The smartly-dressed Birimumaaso had yesterday turned up at the High Court to hear the appeal only to be told that the case had been allocated to another judge who was on leave.
Birimumaaso, the Bukoto West MP and former Movement director for Mass Mobilisation in charge of women, youth and interest groups, was on July 30 sentenced to one year in Luzira Prison.
Buganda Road Court chief magistrate Frank Othembi convicted Birimumaaso for diverting sh24m meant for mass mobilisation in the war-torn Bundibugyo district.
Othembi said Birimumaaso requisitioned for the money and used it for personal gain.
He added that Birimumaaso tried to account for the money but failed to satisfy the accounting officer, Luke Mukiibi and the then permanent secretary, Mohammed Kezzala.
The date for the appeal will be fixed next year.
Ends
THE Principal Judge, Justice Herbert Ntabgoba, has declined to hear Lt. Mulindwa Birimumaaso’s appeal against the one- year jail term for embezzling sh24m.
Ntabgoba cited long-term friendship.
In a communication to the high court chief registrar, Ntabgoba said he had known Birimumaaso for a long time as a personal friend and he could not therefore hear the appeal.
“It would be unsafe for me to handle this appeal as our friendship may influence the decision where justice will not have been done,†Ntabgoba said.
The smartly-dressed Birimumaaso had yesterday turned up at the High Court to hear the appeal only to be told that the case had been allocated to another judge who was on leave.
Birimumaaso, the Bukoto West MP and former Movement director for Mass Mobilisation in charge of women, youth and interest groups, was on July 30 sentenced to one year in Luzira Prison.
Buganda Road Court chief magistrate Frank Othembi convicted Birimumaaso for diverting sh24m meant for mass mobilisation in the war-torn Bundibugyo district.
Othembi said Birimumaaso requisitioned for the money and used it for personal gain.
He added that Birimumaaso tried to account for the money but failed to satisfy the accounting officer, Luke Mukiibi and the then permanent secretary, Mohammed Kezzala.
The date for the appeal will be fixed next year.
Ends