Katosi scam: case adjourned to March 28

Former works minister Eng.Abraham Byandala. Photo/File

The hearing of the case in which six people including former works Minister Eng.Abraham Byandala,  are accused of embezzling sh24.7b meant for upgrading Katosi road from gravel to paved standard, resumed yesterday before the Anticorruption court.

Cross examination of the senior inspectorate officer in the IGG's office Lisa Mwagale, who investigated this case took place by defence lawyers led by Peter Mulira.

Mwagale told presiding Judge Lawrence Gidudu that former works minister Byandala and others, some of whom are Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) officials are the ones responsible for having caused UNRA a loss of over sh24.7b.

Mwagale maintains that IGG could not condone an illegality in the award of this contract to Eutaw Florida who did not go through the bidding process,  and stopped the said works in July 2014,  but Byandala through a letter he wrote to his state minister, John Byabagambi, insisted that the works should continue.

According to the investigating officer, it was Eutaw Mississipi that went through the bidding process and won the tender.

The matter has been adjourned to March 28, 2017 for further cross-examination.