Ministers Sam Kutesa, John Nasasira and Mwesigwa Rukutana were on Thursday charged with two counts of abuse of office and causing government a financial loss of 14 billion shillings before the anti corruption court chief magistrate, Irene Akankwasa.
The trio, who resigned from cabinet on Wednesday ahead of their trial, however denied all the charges.
Irene Akankwasa granted the three a cash bail of 40 million shillings each and their sureties were bonded at 1 billion shillings. The sureties were also ordered to deposit their passports in court.
Kutesa’s sureties included city businessman Patrick Bitature, John Kayongo, the medical director at Uganda Christian University, and Godfrey Bugazora, the chief executive officer of MGS International Uganda. The others are Electoral Commission Secretary Sam Rwakoojo and Gordon Mwesigye, the secretary Uganda Human Rights Commission.
Nasasira has deputy leader of government business Gen. Moses Ali, senior presidential advisor John Nagenda and former defence permanent secretary Dr Ben Mbonye among his sureties. Also on the list are former minister Mary Mugyenyi, housing finance bank executive director Patrick Kabonero and Stanbic Bank chairman Hannington Karugaba.
Rukutana’s sureties include state minister for agriculture Bright Rwamirama, Igara East MP Michael Mawanda and city businessmen Robert Kabonero and Bernard Ahimbisibwe. The prosecution lawyers Sydney Asubo and Sarah Birungi objected to Kajara County MP Stephen Tashobya also standing surety for Rukutana, citing conflict of interest. Tashobya chairs the legal affairs committee of parliament that oversees the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), the prosecutors in the case.
The three officials will appear again on October 24th for mention of their case.
Prosecution led by Sydney Asubo and Sarah Birungi alleges that on December 17th 2005, while at Speke Resort Munyonyo, the trio abused their authority when they acted prejudicial to the interests of government.
It is alleged that the trio irregularly convened a consultative sub committee on behalf of the Cabinet Sub Committee on CHOGM. During the said meeting, the trio decided that government would fund the construction of drives ways, parking areas and Marinas at Munyonyo Speke hotel without authorization.
It is further alleged that the officials irregularly committed government to fund the construction at shillings 14 billion, well knowing that such a commitment would cause a financial loss.
The three officials announced their resignation from cabinet on Wednesday to pave way for the law to take its course. They argued that they decided to quit in the interest of the party and the government.
However, Kutesa, who until Wednesday was minister of foreign affairs, arrived at court on Thursday driving in his Land Cruiser registration number UG 0059X, while chief whip John Nasasira also drove UG 0333Z. Asked to show court proof of their resignation, the three officials only presented a press release they issued on Wednesday.
