The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | The Constitutional Court has ordered that city businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba together with his brother Muzamir Basajjabalaba should stand trial before the Anti-Corruption Court.
The ruling comes five years after their trial had been stayed, so that they could challenge charges of conspiracy to defeat tax laws, forgery of a judicial document and uttering of a false document.
Their Company Haba Group had been accused of failure to pay sh20 billion in tax liability out of a 142 billion shillings compensation they received from government for loss of contracts to manage Kampala city markets between 2010 and 2011.
Four Justices Remmy Kasule, Rubby Opio Aweri, Solomy Balungi Bossa and Eldard Mwangusya declined to drop charges against the two brothers, saying there is nothing unconstitutional for the them to face trial before the Anti-Corruption Court, since the said charges fall under the ambit of the Anti-Corruption Act.
However one Judge, the former deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma refused to sign the judgment.
The four Justices have also directed the court’s registrar to quickly forward Basajjbalaba’s case file back to the Anti Corruption Court so that the stalled trial can resume .
