The anti corruption court in Kampala has finally granted a cash bail 50 million shillings cash to former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya.
Grade one Magistrate at the Nakawa based court Sarah Langa has also directed Bukenya to deposit his passport with court.
Prof Bukenya’s two sureties, Mukwaya Jessy and Henry Kawesa were also each bailed at 200 million shillings not cash.
Former Uganda President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya
Prison stared Bukenya in face after he appeared before the magistrate and said he didn’t have the passport, which he claimed to have handed over to the government. The magistrate agreed with the prosecuting counsel that the passport could not have been withdrawn from Bukenya since he has a constitutional guarantee to continue enjoying presidential privileges.
Former Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya faces charges of alleged abuse of office, in relation to the procurement of 80BMW executive cars for the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala in November 2007. Bukenya insists that abuse of office charges as stated in charges absolutely not true.
Prosecution has asked for a further two weeks to complete investigations. The hearing has now been adjourned until 30 June.
The Inspectorate of Government that investigated CHOGM expenditure accused Bukenya of influencing the award of the sh9b tender to Motor care Uganda in total disregard of the laws, regulations and practices governing public procurement in Uganda.
However, Bukenya’s lawyers Macdusman Kabega and Enos Tumusiime objected to the second charge where Bukenya is jointly charged with Motorcare Uganda, arguing that it should be the company directors of Motor Care Uganda Ltd to be appear in court to answer to that charge.
Although there has been public criticism over targeting Bukenya for the CHOGM scandal charges, the Inspector General of Government Raphael Baku has said many more government or former government officials will be presented in courts of law to answer mismanagement of CHOGM funds.
By Isaac Senbaulya