The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court of Uganda has charged 8 Post Bank officials with cases of abuse of office.
During the High Court session sitting at Kololo yesterday and presided over by Chief Magistrate, Pamela Ocaya Lamunu, the officials, including Bank Managing Director, Stephen Mukweli, were accused of causing financial loss of nearly Shs.1.9 billion to the bank. The suspects, however, denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
The suspects are Stephen Mukweli, Managing Director and Ms. Wabuna Safina, Executive Director Information Communication Technology.
Others are Mwesigye David, Augustine Kisitu, Samuel Wasigye, Alex Kayaayo, Mwesigye Jackson and Gilbert Nuwamanya.
Prosecution, led by David Bisanunu, alleged that in May 2016, the suspects abused the authority entrusted to them by causing Post Bank financial loss of Shs.292,820,0000/= million.
It was further alleged that the same officials caused the bank financial loss of Shs. One billion six hundred million (UGX1,600,000,000/=) on 29th October 2017.
The Court was told that most of the crimes by the officials were committed particularly during the procurement process in the bank from 2016 to 2017.
The Court granted the suspects cash bail ranging from Shs.2 million to 13 million with each suspect required to present 3 substantive sureties.
Court also ordered the suspects to surrender their travel documents such as passports, driving permits and national Identity Cards.
The sureties, on the other hand, were each granted non-cash bail of Shs.10,000.000/= . The case will be brought for mention on 30th May 2019.
On April 5th his year, State House Anti-corruption Unit, headed by Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema, together Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Uganda Police and the Auditor General’s Office, carried out a special probe on Post Bank, Uganda after receiving credible information, from a whistle blower, about mismanagement of the bank’s fund.
