The Anti-corruption Court in Kololo Kampala has convicted three officials from Alebtong Local Government and sentenced them to 30 months in prison for abuse of office contrary to the Anti-corruption Act of 2009.
His Worship Moses Nabende Mushebebe Principal Magistrate Grade One, last evening convicted James Aula , the former Principal Assistant Secretary, Alebtong District currently working as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer -CAO Tororo District, Alex Ojom, the District Internal Auditor District and Dellion Okello, the Assistant Records Officer of abuse of office contrary to Section 11 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009 as amended.
The section states that if a person employed by government or in a company in which government has shares does or directs an arbitrary act prejudicial to the interests of their employer or of any other person amounts to abuse of the authority of their office and hence commits an offence and is liable on conviction and a maximum imprisonment sentence of seven years or a maximum fine of one hundred and sixty eight currency points or both. One currency point is equivalent to 20,000 shillings.
The three were sentenced to 30 months imprisonment each and were disqualified from holding public office for a period of 10 years from the date of conviction as per Section 46 of the Anti-Corruption Act which provides that a person convicted on such an offence and others shall be disqualified from holding a public office for a period of ten years from his or her conviction.
While handing down the sentence, His Worship Nabende said that the convicts held public offices in a senior capacity and as such, their responsibilities in those offices required integrity but they abused it. He further described their actions as premeditated and that they gravely affected the public trust entrusted to them.
According to prosecution led by James Khaukha, State Attorney in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the convicted official, in the year 2018 in Alebtong District Local Government paid 33,840,000 Shillings to Kingscourt Engineering Works Ltd allegedly for borehole drilling and supply of fish cages, fingerlings, feeds and their installation.
However, Kingscourt Engineering Works Ltd although paid, was not contracted for the said services for which they were paid, neither did the company deliver on the said services. Evidence presented by the prosecution showed that the contract for borehole drilling was awarded to Ebowa Investments Ltd while the contract for supply of fish cages was awarded to Giant Fish Farming Consultants Ltd, which companies performed their obligations in their respective contracts and were also paid.
It was hence found that the payment made to Kingscourt Engineering Works Ltd was irregular because it had neither been awarded a contract nor did it implement the activities for which it was paid.
The accused persons were jointly charged with Abdulnoor Mbaagwa Muwonge , Former Chief Administrative Officer, Stephen Andeoye , Chief Finance Officer, Bonny Otyeno , District, District Water Officer, Samuel Mugoya , District Fisheries Officer who were also charged with Causing Financial Loss to the state according to Section 20 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act.
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