Bad Black, Meddie convicted as they await sentence today
Shanitah Namuyimbwa a.k.a Bad Black (L)and Meddie Ssentongo(R) escorted by one of their lawyers Julius Galisonga to court cells at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala yesterday. The two were convicted of embezzlement of Shs11 billion. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
The judge said Bad Black was a director of Daveshan Developments Uganda Limited and therefore had a responsibility not to spend company funds for purposes to which they were not intended.
Kampala
Tears and sorrow filled the Anti-Corruption Court yesterday after court convicted socialite Shanita Namuyimbwa commonly known as Bad Black and her co- accused Meddie Ssentongo. Namuyimba, was convicted of on the first count of embezzlement of over Shs11 billion and the second of conspiracy to defraud with Sentongo as they await for their sentence today.
Kampala High Court Judge Catherine Bamugemereire said the evidence in the case was proved beyond reasonable doubt to convict the two persons. “Regarding the remaining of the ingredients, I am convinced that the money deposited on the Daveshan account belonged to a company and was not for personal use,” Justice Bamugemereire said while convicting the two. She added: “The funds were unlawfully withdrawn and stolen from the company account by Namuyimbwa, a director of Daveshan without any colour of right.”
The judge said the stolen money belonged to Daveshan Developments Uganda Limited an entity separate from David Green (complainant) and Shanita Namuyimbwa as a director, had a responsibility not to spend company funds for purposes to which it was not intended.
Justice Bamugemererire also said Bad Black would not disregard the evidence of Tom Mukomazi, the fourth witness, who told court that Ssentongo was his best friend who confided to him that he had a new girlfriend who had a rich (European) mzungu boyfriend. “ Mukomazi’s courage in spelling out life style changes in Ssentongo’s behaviour should be applauded and not discouraged,” she added.
Justice Bamugemererire said she mostly relied on the evidence of Mr Ponsiano Kaweesa of Peekay Steve Associates, a private audit firm, who testified about what he called a financial relationship between the two convicts.
The offence on conviction attracts a maximum jail sentence of 14 years or a fine of 336 currency points which is equivalent to Shs6.7 million or both.
