The former employees of the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation, (UPPC), have been committed to court for causing financial loss and other related conspiracies.
The 5 suspects include; Prof. Wasswa Tom Davis, former Managing Director, Kasekende Mujjuzi Arstraco, Finance Manager, Kigonya Robert, head Sales, Ahimbisibwe John Baptist, Accountant, and Ayebare Catherine, Assistant Accountant. Efforts are under way to trace for the 3 other suspects, who are on the run.
The police spokesperson SCP. Fred Enanga while addressing reporters at Naguru based police Headquarters in the weekly press conference on March 13, 2023 said that during the financial years 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation, entered into 3 contracts with Electoral Commission for; printing and publishing materials for polling stations for purposes of display of the National Register for the 2020/21 General Elections, Nominating Candidates for Parliamentary and Local Government Elections; and Local Government Council Elections.
As a result, the Electoral Commission transferred to the UPPC account an estimated total sum of funds totaling to UGX. 15,153,030,709/= (Fifteen billion one hundred fifty-three million, thirty thousand, seven hundred nine shillings), out of which UGX. 2,261,003,034/= was allegedly embezzled.
Under clause 5.9.4 of the Sales and Marketing Police of UPPC categorized jobs/contracts from Ministries, Government Departments and Professional Bodies (under which EC falls), as direct procurement and did not require the services of a Commission Agent/Business Executive and thus the attraction of a charge of 18% of money paid to UPPC was outside the law.
The alleged Board resolution, that they claim was passed on the 19.12.2019, to alter clause 5.9.4 and introduce an 18% commission of all jobs/contracts from Ministries, Departments and Professional Bodies, were neither filed nor registered with the Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB).
The board, however, went on and appointed a one Kigonya Robert, a former Sales Executive Manager, as the business executive for Electoral Commission. The suspects, fraudulently transferred the said funds from the UPPC Company Bank Accounts, on the 8.07.2020, 21.05.2021 and 28.06.2021 respectively, into his private account which they quickly withdrew and converted to their private use.
The case file was submitted to the ODPP and charges of causing financial loss C/S 20(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009 (as Amended), dealing with suspect property C/S 21 of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009 (as Amended) and conspiracy to defraud C/S 309 of the Penal Code Act, against 8 suspects out of whom 5, were arrested and charged. Efforts are in place to trace and arrest the other 3 remaining suspects and produce them in court.
Enanga also said that police manged to recover UGX 600 million after carrying out search operations at the offices of UPPC and this will be taken to court as one of the exhibits.
By George Bukenya