By THE OBSERVER UG
The Anti-Corruption court has remanded two employees of Uganda Railway Corporation (URC) on charges of causing the government a financial loss exceeding Shs 146 million.
The accused individuals, Nicholas Kakooza, a mechanical engineer, and Peter Chrys Katwebaze, an assistant chief mechanical engineer, both residents of Kiira Division in Wakiso district, appeared before the acting senior principal grade one magistrate, Albert Asiimwe. They were jointly charged with Stanley Sendegeya, who did not appear in court.
The court heard that in August 2021, at URC offices at plot 57 Nasser Road in Kampala, the accused persons caused the irregular payment of an extra sum of $38,200 (approximately Shs 146 million) to Kenya Railway Corporation for security and transportation of four used locomotives provided from Chwangame Mombasa to URC’s workshop in Nalukolongo Kampala. These payments had already been made to the provider, GPR Leasing Africa, under the contract for the supply delivery, training, and commissioning of four used locomotives.
The prosecution, led by Gloria Inzikuru, informed the court that investigations into the matter are in their final stages and requested the court to issue criminal summons against Sendegeya. The suspects denied the charges and applied for bail, citing their senior citizen status.
They presented two workmates and a third person as sureties, but the prosecution contested their suitability as they failed to provide evidence indicating they were employees of Uganda Railway Corporation. The sureties included Ochaki Namara Abuberkerer, the chief operations officer, David Musiime Katanisa, principal operating officer in charge of the Marines at Uganda Railways Corporation, and Charles Luzigye, commissioner maritime administration in the Ministry of Works and Transport.
The suspects argued that they had been undergoing investigations since 2021, diligently adhering to their bond conditions. They claimed it was their first encounter with criminal allegations and emphasized their responsibility. Katwebaze mentioned his recent loss of his wife, making him the sole breadwinner, while Kakooza cited dependents who would suffer if bail were not granted.
However, the magistrate declined to grant bail, citing a conflict of interest and potential future involvement of the sureties as prosecution witnesses. He expressed concern that other staff of Uganda Railway Corporation are already undergoing trial, potentially putting the sureties in an embarrassing position if called to testify against the individuals they stood surety for.
Asiimwe remanded Kakooza and Katwebaze to Luzira prison until Friday. Criminal summons were also issued for Sendegeya, who had previously been charged at Buganda Road Court on related charges and released on bail.
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