The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Two jailed former officials of Ministry of Public Service Christopher Obey and Steven Kiwanuka Kunsa have applied for bail pending hearing of their appeal challenging the Anti-corruption court decision, that sentenced them.
Through Nsubuga-Mubiru and Company Advocates Obey, then Principal Accountant says he suffers from a serious medical condition that cannot be properly managed in prison, while Kunsa then Commissioner Compensation Department, says he is of advanced age and that there is a high likelihood of delay in determining their appeal, yet the offences with which they were convicted do not involve personal violence.
Jimmy Lwamafa who was then Permanent Secretary, together with Obey then Principal Accountant and Kunsa then Commissioner Compensation Department, were indicted with 10 counts that include causing financial loss, abuse of office,false accounting, conspiracy to defraud and diversion of public funds. They were accused of irregularly budgeting sh88 billion for NSSF and paying it to ghost pension pensioners.
Court ordered the officials to refund sh50 billion together. Lwamafa was given seven years imprisonment, Kunsa five years and Obey 10 years.
They say that since judgment, they have expressed dissatisfaction and petitioned the Court of Appeal seeking to have the lower court decision set aside. Lwamafa has not filed for bail but has appealed the sentence.
Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma has now set February 22, 2017 to hear both Obey and Kunsa’s bail application.
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editor@independent.co.ug
