Katosi scam witness asked for bribes - Eutaw
Mr Martin Olwa, the former Katosi Road works project manager, after appearing before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo yesterday. Photo by MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
What you need to know:
- The bribe. Mr Senkeeto said Mr Olwa demanded a bribe of $10,000 for himself and $50,000 for his other colleagues for every payment certificate issued.
Kampala.
The trial of suspects in the Katosi road scam took a new twist yesterday after the implicated contractor counter-accused a prosecution witness of demanding a bribe from him in order to approve the roadworks.
Mr Apolo Senkeeto, alias Mark Kalyesubula, who was the country representative of Eutaw Construction Company, which is accused of fleecing the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) of Shs24 billion in the collapsed Katosi contract, said the witness, Mr Martin Olwa, demanded a bribe of $10,000 (Shs33.8m) for himself and $50,000 (Shs167m) for his colleagues for every payment certificate issued for approval of the works.
A payment certificate is an acknowledgement that the project works have been done satisfactorily and the contractor deserves to be paid.
Mr Senkeeto is charged with causing financial loss of Shs24 billion to the government in the collapsed Mukono-Katosi road contract. He is jointly charged with former Works minister Abraham Byandala, former UNRA acting executive director, Berunado Ssebbugga Kimeze, Mr Joe Ssemugooma (former director of finance and administration), Mr Wilberforce Senjako (former regional accountant) and Mr Isaac Mugote (former staff of Housing Finance Bank).
Admission
During cross-examination yesterday, Mr Olwa, a fourth prosecution witness accepted he was given a vehicle by the contractor but denied asking for the bribe. He insisted the vehicle was given to him for the purpose of project supervision.
Mr Senkeeto had told court that Mr Olwa demanded the bribe at a private meeting with Eutaw Construction Company officials at Kampala Club on January 23, 2014. “I do not deny (the meeting) but it was at their (Eutaw) invitation,” Mr Olwa said.
He in turn accused his former superior, Mr James Okiror, of failing to implement recommendations against Eutaw after they failed to mobilise the required equipment on the project site for the upgrading of the Katosi road. He did not disclose the recommendations against Eutaw. Hearing continues today.
