Kutesa, Nasasira, Rukutana Chogm case resumes

By Anne Mugisa

The case against three ministers charged with causing loss of sh14b in activities during the preparation for the2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) resumes today.

The case is being prosecuted under the direction of the Director of Public Prosecutions after the Constitutional Court partially blocked the Inspector General of Government (IGG) from prosecuting it.

The ministers facing the charges are foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa, general duties minister in the Office of the Prime Minister John Nasasira and labour state minister Mwesigwa Rukutana.

They are accused of abuse of office and causing financial loss, which they deny.

The funds were allegedly lost during the construction of a parking lot and a mariner at Speke Resort Hotel, Munyonyo, where the heads of state stayed.

The Chogm meeting also took place at Munyonyo. City lawyers Didas Nkurunziza, Dr. Joseph Byamugisha and Oscar Kambona are representing the three ministers.

The Inspectorate of Government was on April 5 stopped from prosecuting the ministers because instead of having a substantive IGG and two deputies, it had only one deputy IGG.

But recently, Justice Irene Mulyagonja was appointed IGG and the second deputy IGG has been named, but is yet to go through the appointment process.