Ex-PS Kashaka denied bail
Sep 03, 2014
Court of Appeal has declined to grant bail to John Kashaka Muhanguzi, the convicted former permanent secretary ministry of local government
By Edward Anyoli
Court of Appeal has declined to grant bail to John Kashaka Muhanguzi, the convicted former permanent secretary ministry of local government.
Justice Salome Bbosa on Wednesday said the case involved a colossal sum of money which is not yet recovered.
Bbosa said Kashaka failed to prove that his sickness cannot be treated from Luzira prison where his currently serving his sentence.
On the issue of the appeal having high chances of success , Bbosa said she was not in position to tell whether the appeal will succeed or not because she had not looked at the records of proceedings from the Ant- Corruption Court.
Court also denied Kashaka bail on grounds that the sureties he had presented were not substantial
Kashaka (60) was convicted by the Anti- Corruption Court July for mismanaging sh4b meant for local council bicycles.
He appealed against the whole judgment including the conviction and the sentence saying it was unfair because prosecution did not adduce enough evidence to warrant his conviction.
Justice Catherine Bamugemereire convicted and sentenced Kashaka to 10 years and 10 days in addition ordered him to refund part of sh4b.
Others convicts who were denied bail were: Robert Mwebaze, principal procurement officer accountant who was sentenced to 10 years for abuse of office and neglect of duty; Sam Engorot, principal procurement officer sentenced to 13 years, and principal accountant Henry Bamutura who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for abuse of office.
Court however granted bail to Timothy Musherure, a former consultant with ministry of local government and Adam B. Aluma, an Administrative Officer.
Court ordered each of them to pay sh20m and their sureties are to execute non cash bond of sh20m.
Aluma was sentenced to 1 year and 9 months for abuse of office and neglect of duty while Musherure was sentenced to 3-years imprisonment for preparing and abetting crime.
The judge noted that Aluma and Musherere have lighter sentences and it would be unfair for them to serve the whole sentence when the appeal is still pending.
Josephine Namatovu argued that the offences with which Kaskaka was convicted are of serious nature and grave.
Namatovu said Kashaka failed to prove that he would not abscond if granted bail especially when he is no longer innocent.