IGG drops charges against Jinja mayor
Aug 03, 2009
THE Inspectorate of Government has withdrawn charges of causing financial loss and abuse of office against Jinja mayor, Mohammed Baswale Kezaala.
By Edward Anyoli
THE Inspectorate of Government has withdrawn charges of causing financial loss and abuse of office against Jinja mayor, Mohammed Baswale Kezaala.
“I have instructions from the Inspectorate of Government to discontinue proceedings against the accused,†Principal State Attorney Sydney Asubo said.
A July 31 letter to the Registrar of the Anti-Corruption Court, signed by the acting IGG, Raphael Baku, read: “Take notice that the Government of Uganda intends that the proceedings against Kezaala Mohammed Baswale shall not continue.â€
The trial judge, John Bosco Katusti, subsequently withdrew the charges. The case had been fixed for hearing.
Asubo did not give reasons for the withdrawal.
However, a source said the charges were withdrawn to pave way for fresh investigations.
Kezaala was interdicted for allegedly causing financial loss of sh16.6m to Jinja Municipal Council.
He had been accused of approving sh16.7m for the purchase of 100 pieces of ironsheets and 820 bags of cement using money meant for village councils.
The Inspectorate of Government had also accused Kezaala of causing financial loss when he directed payment of sh16.7m to Green Summer Enterprise without the knowledge of the Municipal Council between July 2006 and April 2007.
Kezaala was arrested after the Inspector General of Government issued a report recommending that he should be removed from office for breach of the Leadership Code.
In the December 17, 2008 report, former IGG Faith Mwondha accused Kezaala of allocating land to a Muslim association to which he belongs.
Mwondha also said items, like iron sheets and cement, which Kezaala reportedly approved, never reached the intended beneficiaries.
Kezaala denied the allegation, saying the IGG’s move was politically motivated. He said his arrest was calculated to ensure that the council debates his removal in his absence.
Before Kezaala’s arrest last year, a meeting convened to debate his removal degenerated into disagreement among councillors.
Kezaala, who appeared unmoved about withdrawal of the charges outside the court, said there was no money lost as he had been accused.
His lawyer, Caleb Alaka, said he would appeal for his re-instatement as mayor.
THE Inspectorate of Government has withdrawn charges of causing financial loss and abuse of office against Jinja mayor, Mohammed Baswale Kezaala.
“I have instructions from the Inspectorate of Government to discontinue proceedings against the accused,†Principal State Attorney Sydney Asubo said.
A July 31 letter to the Registrar of the Anti-Corruption Court, signed by the acting IGG, Raphael Baku, read: “Take notice that the Government of Uganda intends that the proceedings against Kezaala Mohammed Baswale shall not continue.â€
The trial judge, John Bosco Katusti, subsequently withdrew the charges. The case had been fixed for hearing.
Asubo did not give reasons for the withdrawal.
However, a source said the charges were withdrawn to pave way for fresh investigations.
Kezaala was interdicted for allegedly causing financial loss of sh16.6m to Jinja Municipal Council.
He had been accused of approving sh16.7m for the purchase of 100 pieces of ironsheets and 820 bags of cement using money meant for village councils.
The Inspectorate of Government had also accused Kezaala of causing financial loss when he directed payment of sh16.7m to Green Summer Enterprise without the knowledge of the Municipal Council between July 2006 and April 2007.
Kezaala was arrested after the Inspector General of Government issued a report recommending that he should be removed from office for breach of the Leadership Code.
In the December 17, 2008 report, former IGG Faith Mwondha accused Kezaala of allocating land to a Muslim association to which he belongs.
Mwondha also said items, like iron sheets and cement, which Kezaala reportedly approved, never reached the intended beneficiaries.
Kezaala denied the allegation, saying the IGG’s move was politically motivated. He said his arrest was calculated to ensure that the council debates his removal in his absence.
Before Kezaala’s arrest last year, a meeting convened to debate his removal degenerated into disagreement among councillors.
Kezaala, who appeared unmoved about withdrawal of the charges outside the court, said there was no money lost as he had been accused.
His lawyer, Caleb Alaka, said he would appeal for his re-instatement as mayor.