Kazinda loses application on retrial
Jailed former principal accountant in the Office of the Prime Minister, Geoffrey Kazinda at the anti-corruption court in Kololo on Tuesday as his application seeking for a constitutional interpretation on whether he should be retried on the same charges that he was convicted was being dismissed. His lawyers say that evidence and the auditor general’s report that was going to be used against him was already used and that it would be a double punishment. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
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Mr Kazinda is also facing charges of abuse of office, embezzlement, causing financial loss of more than Shs316 million and diversion of public resources together with Ms Beatrice Kezabu (assistant resettlement officer) who is also charged with false accounting, Ms Shamim Masembe, the proprietor and sole signatory of Total Fuel Station Ntinda and businessman Hussein Katumwa, the station manager
KAMPALA
Court has dismissed an application in which the jailed former principal accountant in the Office of the Prime Minister, Geoffrey Kazinda was seeking for a constitutional interpretation on whether he should be retried on the same charges he was convicted and sentenced.
The trial Judge at the Anti-Corruption Court Margaret Tibulya dismissed the application on grounds that the Constitutional Court already ruled on the same application.
Mr Kazinda who is facing more 69 charges in connection with theft of donor aid meant for northern Uganda and Karamoja had sought for a constitutional interpretation claiming that the evidence, including the auditor general’s report which is to be used against him was already used and that it would be a double punishment.
“The Constitutional Court has already pronounced it’s self on the same matter as distinguished. I see no evidence that this interpretation is required,” said Justice Tibulya, adding, “The offences were committed on different dates.”
Kazinda, who appeared in court on Wednesday, is charged along with former Finance ministry officials: Wilbert Okello (principal system analyst), David Mugisha (senior economist) and Bright Atwine (senior account).
The 69 offences against Kazinda involve the misappropriation of more than Shs5.4b meant for post-war reconstruction in northern Uganda and Karamoja sub-regions under the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP).
The new offences brought against Kazinda include causing financial loss, forgery, abuse of office and criminal conspiracy, among others.
Senior Principal State Attorney Vincent Wagona earlier informed court that the evidence indicate that many security papers used to transfer the money from the PRDP account in Bank of Uganda to Crisis Management Account, without the knowledge of the accounting officer using forged signatures of Mr Bigirimana. The matter was adjourned to September 5, when court will decide on the hearing date.
Utility
Mr Kazinda is also facing charges of abuse of office, embezzlement, causing financial loss of more than Shs316 million and diversion of public resources together with Ms Beatrice Kezabu (assistant resettlement officer) who is also charged with false accounting, Ms Shamim Masembe, the proprietor and sole signatory of Total Fuel Station Ntinda and businessman Hussein Katumwa, the station manager.
