Hearing of the corruption case against former National Forestry Authority (NFA) director, Damian Akankwasa has been pushed to January 2012.
The Anti-Corruption Court Grade One Magistrate, Emmanuel Baguma set the case to start on 16th through 20th January. Akankwasa is facing charges of abuse of office and causing financial loss to NFA.
Prosecution led by Sydney Asubo on Friday told court that investigations on the first count of abuse of office are complete and would proceed to trial in January. The other counts on causing financial loss and flouting the public procurement law will also come for mention on the same dates as inquiries are still ongoing.
According to prosecution, Akankwasa while still the director of the National Forestry Authority between June and July 2009, abused his office. Akankwasa allegedly disposed of 40,000 cubic meters of eucalyptus trees at Lendu Central Forest Reserve to Nile Plywood Uganda at a price of Shs46, 000 per tree, instead of the set price of Shs65, 000.
Akankwasa is also charged with causing a financial loss of Shs100 million for allegedly selling 10,000 eucalyptus poles in Mwenge plantation to Wood Company Uganda at Shs10,000 each instead of Shs20,000.
He faces another count of causing a financial loss of Shs2 billion to the forestry body. The loss is alleged to have resulted from Akankwasa awarding more than 100,000 cubic meters of round wood from Katugo Central Forest Reserve to Nile Plywood Uganda for harvest at Shs62,500 each instead of Shs82,500.
Akankwasa is represented by Anthony Ahimbisibwe.
Akankwasa came to the limelight in 2009 after he accused his wife Juliet of stealing over 900 million shillings from their bedroom. This case is still under investigation on the directives of the President.
