The Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Works Engineer Samson Bagonza has requested the Anti Corruption Court for a lighter sentence following his conviction on charges of causing financial loss to the government during works when Uganda was preparing to host CHOGM, the Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting in November 2007.
Justice John Bosco Katutsi
This followed a guilty conviction by Anti Corruption Court judge, Justice John Boscon Katutsi who found Bagonza guilty of causing financial loss to the government and failing to follow orders while overseeing the construction of roads ahead of CHOGM.
Katutsi found Bagonza guilty of causing the government of Uganda financial loss of over 1.6 billion Uganda shillings meant for reconstruction of road works on Entebbe road, among other counts.
Bagonza is the first high ranking government official to be convicted over CHOGM scandals resulting from the misuse of CHOGM funds. Many official and unofficial reports have shown gross abuse of funds, procurement and investment during the time Uganda invested hefty amounts of money head of the Commonwealth meeting.
After the ruling at the Court in Nakawa, Bagonza through his lawyer McDusman Kabega requested for Court to give him a lighter sentence, arguing that he did not use any funds or make decisions for personal benefit, is of advanced age and suffers from acute pressure.
Bagonza pleaded for a reduction in the sentence to a caution or fine, instead of a custodial sentence and Justice Katutsi remanded him further to Luzira until Tuesday when he (Katutsi) will deliver the final judgment of the sentence.