Kabafunzaki bribe case adjourned over sickness

Oct 24, 2020

Kabafunzaki, who did not appear in court, is expected to start his defence after the court recently ruled that he has a case to answer.

COURT|CORRUPTION|BRIBE

The Anti-Corruption Court has adjourned a bribe case against former labour state minister, Herbert Kabafunzaki, because he is reportedly sick.

Justice Margaret Tibulya had directed state prosecutor Barbra Kawuma to look for a medical specialist from Mulago hospital to examine Kabafunzaki and furnish court with the report.

However, when the case resumed on Friday (October 23, 2020), defence lawyer Evans Ochieng informed the court that Kabafunzaki was examined but the medical specialist recommended for another test.

"The test will be done within a week and a copy of the report will be given to court," Ochieng promised. This prompted court to adjourn the case to November 11, 2020.

Kabafunzaki, who did not appear in court, is expected to start his defence after the court recently ruled that he has a case to answer.

Kabafunzaki, his personal assistant Brian Mugabo and Bruce Lubowa, who is still at large, are accused of soliciting and receiving sh5m bribe from AYA Investment boss, Mohammed Hamid in a bid to clear his name over alleged sexual harassment of his former female employee.

Hamid claims he was being framed by the employee (name withheld), whom he had fired for attempting to steal $10,000 (about sh37m) from the company.

On April 8, 2017, the trio was arrested at Kampala Serena Hotel for purportedly receiving sh5m bribe as partial payment for the sh15m they had reportedly solicited from Hamid.

On April 12, 2017, Kabafunzaki with his co-accused were charged with two counts of corruption in breach of Section 2 and 26 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009.

According to the Act, any person convicted of an offence of corruption is liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding ten years or a fine not exceeding two hundred and forty currency points (sh4.8m) or both.

The minister and Lubowa also face charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, where it is alleged that between April 6 and 8 in Kampala, they solicited sh15m from Hamid.

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