The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has presented an indictment in court, claiming that legislators Michael Muranga Mawanda and Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi used cooperative cash to sort out their debts arising out of court disputes.
The prosecution evidence is contained in an indictment report tabled on Friday (July 19, 2024) by the Chief State Attorney from the ODPP, Edward Muhumuza and Senior State Attorney Raymond Mugisa to the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.
According to the indictment, Mawanda initially got sh1b in 2021, which he allegedly used to pay Buyaka G.CS Limited Creditors and another sh200m to settle his debt arising out of a court dispute case no.28 of 2020 at the Commercial Division of the High Court.
The case had been filed by Eng. George Turyakira against Mawanda. The money was purportedly paid to Turyakira on October 7, 2021 and November 24, 2021, respectively.
The indictment also indicates that sh33m was used to pay a loan for Mawanda and Mudimi.
Mudimi is also accused of using sh865.9m cooperative cash to settle his outstanding loan payable to Jain Rajnish.
Court documents indicate that lawyer Kirya allegedly used to settle the debts on behalf of Mawanda.
In addition to debt payment, sh85m was purportedly paid to Mudimi’s account in dfcu Bank Jinja Road branch.
MPs Mawanda ((Igara East) and Mudimi ((Elgon County) are battling corruption charges related to sh3.8b Cooperative funding scheme alongside Paul Akamba (Busiki County), trade ministry’s permanent secretary, Geraldine Busuulwa Ssali, Leonard Kavundira (the principal co-operative officer at the trade ministry), and lawyer Julius Kirya.
The accused were committed to the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court to face trial.
Prosecution team say they will adduce evidence to prove that the action of distributing money by Kirya to Mawanda and Mudimi amounted to money laundering.
The prosecution further alleges that sh200m was transferred to the bank account held by Akamba in dfcu on June 14, 2023.
According to the indictment, Kavundira purportedly influenced and coerced the Chairperson of Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society to abandon their duly appointed advocates, Anguria and Company Advocates, and Mungoma and Wakhakha and Company Advocates in favour of Kirya and Company Advocates for purposes of following up their claim of war loss in the trade ministry.
Prosecution asserts that Kavundira being a member of the verification committee, which was a parallel committee created by Ssali had prior knowledge of the claim and what was due to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society.
Ssali is accused of approving payments to Kirya and Company Advocates contrary to the Treasury Instructions 2017.
The prosecution also claims that Ssali established a parallel verification committee contrary to the inter-ministerial committee that had been created by Cabinet for purposes of expediting the impugned verifications of various cooperatives for her personal interests.
Ssali is also accused of irregularly making payments to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society without supporting documents.
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