Court remands former works minister Byandala

Former works and transport Minister, and minister without portfolio, Mr Abraham Byandala has been remanded to Luzira Prison over allegations of abuse of office and causing financial loss to the government.

Mr Byandala was arrested on Tuesday and produced in anti-corruption court from where he was remanded to until August 11.

Mr Byandala is accused, along with five other suspects over their role in the Mukono-Kyetume-Katosi road.

The other accused persons include Mr Berunado Ssebbugga Kimeze former Ag. Executive Director , Joe Ssemugooma former Ag Director Finance and Administration, Uganda National Roads Authority, Marvin Baryaruha, former legal Counsel, Uganda National Roads Authority, Apolo Senkeeto alias Kalyesubula Mark, businessman, and Mugote Isaac, former Banker, Housing Finance Bank Ltd.

The accused appeared in Anti- Corruption Court on Tuesday to take plea.

Mr Byandala on January 13, this year recorded a statement with police detectives over the botched Katosi road construction.

The need to interrogate Mr Byandala arose from a directive from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after the Katosi files were submitted to his office.

Mr Byandala is said to have written to Uganda National Roads Authority officials directing them to procure Eutaw Construction Company for the project.

It was later discovered the procured Eutaw was fake and government had lost billions of shillings in the deal.

Government is said to have lost more than Shs24.7 billion which was advanced to Eutaw Construction Company for the construction of Katosi road, a company that was later said to be non-existent.