Government chief engineer Bagonza set free
Mr Samson Bagonza being escorted to the court cells by a police officers after he was remanded to Luzira Prison in 2010. File photo.
Kampala- The Court of Appeal has set free interdicted government chief engineer Samson Bagonza, who was in 2010 sentenced to a three years imprisonment over abuse of office.
Mr Bagonza was also accused of causing financial loss amounting to Shs1.6 billion during the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting (Chogm).
Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma, justices Eldard Mwangushya and Solomy Balungi Bossa overturned the earlier decision of the retired Anti-Corruption Court Judge John Bosco Katutsi and acquitted Mr Bagonza, observing that in their own analysis of the evidence, their findings were different with those of Justice Katutsi.
The judges also lifted a 10-year ban against Mr Bagonza’s employment in civil service.
Mr Bagonza had been accused of approving the additional construction work on the Entebbe Highway between Zana and Kibuye during Chogm preparations, contrary to the interests of the Works ministry.
The additional costs amounted to Shs1.6billion, which according to prosecution, was not approved by the Public Procurement Disposal of Assets Authority well aware that this would cause government a loss.
“The testimony of the then Ministry of Works permanent secretary Charles Muganzi and the finding of the Auditor General all point to the fact that no loss was occasioned and that the additional work was executed,” ruled the justices.
Mr Bagonza’s lawyer, MacDusman Kabega, filed the appeal challenging both the conviction and sentence, maintaining that no loss was occasioned to government since the work was performed.
However, during mitigation after he was found guilty, he regretted the loss of the Shs1.6 billion to government, saying he was under extreme pressure to complete the work ahead of the summit.
