Moroto magistrate charged with theft

By Michael Odeng and Farooq Kasule

Moroto Grade I magistrate, Grace Balintuma has been summoned by Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged theft of sh46m that belonged to two UPDF officers.

The officers, Captain Charles Karemera and Lieutenant Edmund Mujuni are now deceased.    

The court presided over by Buganda Road Court Chief magistrate Lillian Bucyana on Wednesday issued criminal summons against Balintuma in lieu of a warrant of arrest for her suspect to appear in court to answer charges preferred against her.

If Balintuma, 44, a resident of Naalya Estates, Wakiso district fails to respond to the summons, the court will be prompted to issue warrant of arrest, to have her forcefully produced in court by police.

The chief magistrate issued the summons after the state prosecutor Lillian Omara requested for it. Balintuma is expected to appear in court on December 30 to take plea on the alleged charges.

“I pray for criminal summons to be issued against the suspect, for her failure to turn up in court,” she added.

Balintuma was charged with three counts of theft and intermeddling with the property of the deceased. She was charged with theft under section 254 (1) and (2e) of the Penal Code Act (PCA) meanwhile the other count is under section 11 (1) of the Administrator General’s Act CAP 159.

Prosecution led by Lillian Omara alleges that Balintuma on October 22, 2009 at Housing Finance Bank in Kampala stole sh32m, the property of the late Karemera.

It is further alleged that between the month of November 2004 and June 2012 without being duly authorized by law intermeddled with the property of the said deceased, by stealing the said money.

It is also alleged that, Balintuma on August 13, 2013 at Housing Finance bank limited in Kampala stole sh14m, the property late lieutenant Mujuni.