Kerry Howard Mwesigwa.
The Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing for September 19, 2023, to hear an appeal filed by the Inspectorate of Government (IG) challenging the acquittal of former works minister Abraham Byandala in the Katosi road scandal.
Byandala, along with former Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) executive director Berunado Kimeze Ssebbugga and former Housing Finance Bank official Isaac Mugote, was acquitted in August 2018 of charges related to the alleged embezzlement of shillings 24.7 billion intended for the Mukono-Katosi Nyenga road upgrade.
In addition to this, the Court of Appeal will also consider the appeal filed by individuals who were convicted in the same case. This includes businessman Apollo Senkeeto, who received a 10-year prison sentence, as well as former UNRA director of finance and administration Joe Ssemugooma and regional accountant Wilberforce Ssenjako, who were sentenced to five years in prison. All three individuals are currently out on bail.
Senkeeto’s sentencing was marked by Judge Lawrence Gidudu’s emphasis on his artificial lifestyle, which was sustained by manipulations. Despite being a first-time offender with a young family, Senkeeto’s involvement in the fraud led to a custodial sentence of 10 years.
At the heart of the Katosi road scandal is the alleged misuse of funds allocated to Chongqing International Construction Corporation (CICO) for road upgrades. Senkeeto was found to have directed shillings 12.2 billion to CICO for the project and disbursed shillings 4.6 billion to associates in the United States. The remaining funds were allegedly used for luxury vehicles and maintaining an extravagant lifestyle.
The appeal raises important questions about the role of those acquitted in supporting Senkeeto’s fraudulent activities. The court observed that the involvement of former UNRA staff facilitated Senkeeto’s fraudulent bid through invalid securities, allowing his company, Eutaw, to bid for the project.
