October 23, 2023
KAMPALA, Uganda | The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has lost its appeal in a forgery case against a city businessman, William Aijuka. The decision, delivered by Justice Margaret Tibulya, upheld the ruling of the Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate’s Court, acquitting Aijuka of charges related to making a false document.
The case revolved around allegations that Aijuka had forged a letter purportedly authored by the Commissioner of Customs at the Uganda Revenue Authority. The letter was addressed to Samona Limited and contained a warning about the company’s failure to file returns or notifications, threatening legal action if they failed to comply. Aijuka was accused of presenting this letter to Juliet Nalongo Mukasa, allegedly bearing a URA “received stamp.”
According to the prosecution’s claims, Aijuka had further explained to Mukasa that a URA official had assisted him in resolving the matter and had initially demanded 10 million Ugandan Shillings for his services. However, he managed to negotiate the amount down to 7 million Shillings.
In her ruling, Justice Tibulya carefully examined the evidence presented and concluded that the charges against Aijuka were not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. She emphasized that there was insufficient evidence to support the prosecution’s claim that Aijuka had forged the letter in question. Consequently, the judge dismissed the URA’s appeal, affirming the decision of the lower court.
“The court finds that there is no evidence to support the charges insofar as the falsehood of the impugned letter’s authorship is concerned. This finding renders it unnecessary to address the other challenges raised by counsel for the Respondent. The judgment and orders of the lower court are upheld. There is no merit in this appeal. It stands dismissed,” stated Justice Tibulya.
The outcome of this case has raised questions about the URA’s prosecution and the strength of the evidence presented. It highlights the importance of ensuring that cases are built on solid evidence and that charges are proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Aijuka’s acquittal is seen as a legal victory, offering him a chance to move forward from these allegations.
