The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has today requested the Anti-Corruption Court issue arrest warrants for the two prominent lawyers that took part in the embezzlement of billions of shillings who were meant to be for the Busoga Growers Cooperative Union.
The two have been identified as John Matovu and Fred Makada, senior partners at Matovu and Matovu Advocates and Makada and Makada Advocates, respectively, and they have failed to appear in court to face theft charges alongside other suspects in the case.
Along with Jinja District Commercial Officer James Muganza and Cooperative Chairman Charles Basoga, the two lawyers are accused of mishandling over Sh7 billion from the cooperative. While Muganza and Basoga have already been charged and remanded to prison, Matovu and Makada have repeatedly defied court summonses.
The State Attorney, Stanley Baine, told the Anti-Corruption Court that despite serving summons, the lawyers have been evading, arguing that issuing arrest warrants is necessary to compel their attendance in court.
Defense lawyers for the accused claimed their clients were indisposed and requested more time to produce them. However, the prosecution dismissed these claims as unsubstantiated.
Magistrate Abert Asiimwe extended the criminal summons for Matovu and Makada, warning that failure to appear at the next hearing on August 12 would result in their arrest.
The case has sparked public outrage, with many calling for tough penalties for those involved in the theft of funds meant to benefit farmers. It also highlights the growing concern over the misuse of cooperative funds by officials.
This is the second high-profile case involving the theft of cooperative funds to be heard by the Anti-Corruption Court in recent months. The first case, involving three MPs, a lawyer, a permanent secretary, and a trade official, has already been committed to the High Court for trial.
