National
Mukula appeal ruling for today
Capt. Mike Mukula was sentenced to four years in jail in January for embezzlement of Shs210 million meant for vaccination and immunisation programmes in the office of the First Lady.
Posted Wednesday, March 13 2013 at 02:00
In Summary
Mike Mukula’s lawyers want his four-year sentence nullified, saying he was wrongly convicted.
Kampala
The Anti Corruption Court is today expected to deliver its judgement in a high-profile appeal in which jailed former junior health minister Mike Mukula. is challenging his conviction and sentence.
The judgement is expected to be delivered by Justice David Wangutusi, who heard Capt. Mukula’s appeal a month ago.
On January 18, court found Capt. Mukula guilty of embezzling Shs210 million from the Gavi account.
The former minister was accordingly sentenced to four years in jail, where he has been ever since.
He, however, appealed against the court’s decision.
Lead prosecutor Sydney Asubo said he was ready for the judgement. During the appeal hearing last month, Capt. Mukula, through his lawyers, argued that he was wrongly convicted of embezzlement, because ministers are not government employees. His lawyer, Mr Ateenyi Tibaijjuka, argued that the trial Chief Magistrate erred when she believed the prosecution’s case without hearing his side.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Court will also today hear the bail application filed by remanded city businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba. Justice Wangutusi fixed the date on Monday after the businessman applied to have his cancelled bail reinstated. The cancellation of Mr Basajjabalaba’s bail followed his committal to the high court over forgery charges.
awesaka@ug.nationmedia.com
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