Rédaction Africa Links 24 with The Observer
Published on 2024-03-21 19:52:12
The Anti-Corruption court has recently remanded two employees of the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) on charges of causing a financial loss to the government of over Shs 146 million. The individuals are Nicholas Kakooza, a mechanical engineer, and Peter Chrys Katwebaze, an assistant chief mechanical engineer, both residents of Kiira Division in Wakiso district. The suspects appeared before the acting senior principal grade one magistrate Abert Asiimwe, who read them one count of causing financial loss. They are jointly charged with Stanley Sendegeya, who did not appear in court.
The court heard that in August 2021, at the URC offices on plot 57 Nasser Road in Kampala, the accused individuals were involved in the irregular payment of an additional sum of $38,200 (approximately Shs 146 million) to the Kenya Railway Corporation for the security and transportation of four used locomotives from Chwangame Mombasa to URC’s workshop in Nalukolongo Kampala. It was discovered that these payments had already been made to the provider GPR Leasing Africa under the contract for the supply, delivery, training, and commissioning of the locomotives.
The prosecution, led by Gloria Inzikuru, stated that the investigations into the matter are in their final stages. She requested the court to issue criminal summons against Sendegeya to ensure his appearance and plea. The suspects denied the charges and applied for bail based on their status as senior citizens. They provided two workmates and a third person as sureties, but the prosecution raised concerns about their eligibility as employees of Uganda Railways Corporation.
The sureties presented were Ochaki Namara Abuberkerer, the chief operations officer, David Musiime Katanisa, the principal operating officer in charge of the Marines at Uganda Railways Corporation, and Charles Luzigye, the commissioner of maritime administration in the Ministry of Works and Transport. However, the magistrate declined to grant them bail, citing a conflict of interest and the possibility of the sureties being prosecution witnesses in the future.
The court also took into consideration the fact that other staff of Uganda Railways Corporation are already undergoing trial, and granting bail could lead to potential conflicts. Asiimwe ultimately remanded Kakooza and Katwebaze to Luzira prison until the next hearing on Friday. Criminal summons were issued for Sendegeya, who had previously been charged at Buganda Road Court on related charges and released on bail.
The suspects emphasized that they had cooperated during the investigations since 2021 and had faithfully adhered to their bond conditions. They expressed their lack of prior criminal records and highlighted their responsibilities, with Katwebaze mentioning the recent loss of his wife and his role as the sole breadwinner. Kakooza also mentioned his dependents who would suffer if he was not granted bail.
Overall, the court’s decision to deny bail was based on the complexities of the case and the potential conflicts that could arise if the sureties were involved as witnesses. The legal proceedings in this case highlight the importance of accountability and transparency within government institutions like the Uganda Railways Corporation.
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