City tycoons charged with theft of sh35b

Two businessmen have been charged with stealing sh35b from Total Uganda.

Deogratius Twagirayezu and Joseph Bbuye both businessmen dealers with Total Uganda Limited were on Thursday evening arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo, Kampala and denied the charges.

The trial magistrate, Pamela Lamunu Ochaya, read to them the charges of theft of petrol, diesel, and lubricants worth sh35b as well as conspiracy to defraud the company.

Prosecution alleges that between September 2017 and September 30, 2018, while at Total offices on 8th Street of Industrial Area, the duo conspired with the company employees to steal the commodities indicating into the company system that they had paid for them.

Total employees Belinda Nakasi, the treasurer; Priscilla Nansikombi, the cashier, Hemal Kotecha, the cash dealer, and Innocent Tugume also a cash dealer were earlier charged with the same counts before the same court and were released on bail.

Others accused of theft include Ritah Mbabazi Daphine, the procurement officer, and Evelyn Kaggwa, a businesswoman.

Twagirayezu and Bbuye denied the charges and were released on bail of sh20m each and the matter was adjourned to December 9 for the mention of their case.