Anti-Corruption court remands Railways staff over Shs 146m loss

The Anti-Corruption court has remanded two employees of Uganda Railway Corporation (URC) on charges of causing the government a financial loss of more than Shs 146 million.

They are; Nicholas Kakooza, mechanical engineer and Peter Chrys Katwebaze assistant chief mechanical engineer – all residents of Kiira Division in Wakiso district. The suspects today appeared before the acting senior principal grade one magistrate Abert Asiimwe who read to them one count of causing financial loss. They are jointly charged with Stanley Sendegeya who did not appear.

The court heard that in August 2021 at URC offices at plot 57 Nasser Road in Kampala, the accused persons caused the irregular payment of an extra sum of $38,200 (about Shs 146 million) to Kenya Railway Corporation for security and transportation of four used locomotives that had been provided from Chwangame Mombasa to URC’s workshop in Nalukolongo Kampala; yet the payments had already been made to the provider GPR Leasing Africa under the contract for the supply delivery, training and commissioning of four used locomotives.

The prosecution led by Gloria Inzikuru informed the court that investigations into the matter are in their final stages. She further asked the court to issue criminal summons against Sendegeya requiring him to appear and take a plea. The suspects denied the charges and applied for bail because they were senior citizens.

They presented two workmates and a third person as sureties whom the prosecution said were not substantial after they failed to produce evidence to indicate that they were employees of Uganda Railway Corporation.

The sureties are: Ochaki Namara Abuberkerer the chief operations officer and David Musiime Katanisa, principal operating officer in charge of the Marines at Uganda Railways Corporation. Charles Luzigye, commissioner maritime administration in the ministry of Works and Transport.

The suspects told court that the time they have been undergoing investigations since 2021 and have religiously answered their bond. They told the court that it was the first time they were facing criminal allegations and that they were persons of responsibility. Katwebaze said that he recently lost his wife and is now the sole breadwinner.

The court also heard that Kakooza has dependants who will suffer if not granted bail. In his ruling, the magistrate declined to grant them bail on grounds that there was a conflict of interest and the sureties might in future be asked to be prosecution witnesses.

He said other staff of Uganda Railway Corporation are already undergoing trial and therefore, he is saving them from embarrassment in future in case they are called to testify against the people they stood surety for.

Asiimwe remanded them to Luzira prison until Friday. Criminal summons have also been issued for Sendegeya. Sendegeya had previously been charged at Buganda Road Court on related charges and released on bail.