Eight govt officials charged, remanded over BoU heist
Eight Ministry of Finance officials, including Accountant General Lawrence Ssemakula, Treasury Services Commissioner Jennifer Muhuruzi, and Senior IT Officer Yawe Tonny, were arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday and remanded to Luzira Prison.
They are charged with corruptly causing the government a loss of Bank of Uganda’s Shs60 billion through payment system manipulations.
The prosecution alleges that Ssemakula and Muhuruzi neglected their duty to safeguard public funds, resulting in a loss of $652,588.2 to the government.
Tonny is accused of manipulating payment files to divert funds to Road-way Company Ltd. in Poland, purportedly for recycling plant systems and machinery.
Other suspects are charged with complicity in corruption, aimed at illicitly enriching Road-way Company.
The group faces 11 counts, including corruption, financial loss, electronic fraud, and money laundering. Chief Magistrate Reacheal Nakyazze referred the case to the High Court, where the suspects will enter their pleas and apply for bail.
The accused will remain in Luzira Prison until February 18, 2025. Criminal summons have been issued for Assistant Commissioner of Accounts Pedson Twesingomwe, who was absent from court.
