Uganda charges top ruling party officials with graft
Uganda's former Foreign Affairs minister, Sam Kutesa. Photo/FILE courtesy of the Daily Nation |
By AFP
Posted Thursday, October 13 2011 at 16:53
Uganda on Thursday charged three top ruling party officials, including recently resigned foreign minister Sam Kutesa, with abuse of office on charges that they allegedly misused funds meant for hosting the 2007 Commonwealth summit.
Kutesa resigned Wednesday alongside Mwesigwa Rukutana, who was the junior labour minister, and John Nasasira, who quit as the ruling party parliamentary leader, pending the conclusion of the case.
They were charged by the anti-corruption court for abuse of office and causing financial loss to the government, which they denied.
Prosecutor Sydney Asubo said the three abused "the authority of their offices, an arbitrary act prejudicial to the interest of the government of Uganda."
"The three irregularly convened a consultative cabinet meeting and decided that the government would fully fund the construction cost of driveways, parking areas and a marina at Munyonyo Speke Resort, a decision that led to 14 billion shillings ($4.9 million / 3.6 million euros) loss to the government," Asubo added.
They face up to 13 years in jail if convicted.
The three were released on a $14,000 bail and surrendered their passports.
In recent weeks, graft cases involving top officials have made headlines in Uganda.
Former vice president Gilbert Bukenya was freed on bail Tuesday after the anti-corruption court charged him with abuse of office for inflating the rental prices of fleets of vehicles used to ferry VIPs during the Commonwealth summit.
Source: Daily Nation
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