By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
A Principal Cooperatives Officer in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives has today been arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court on charges of Conspiracy to defraud.
Leonard Kavundira who is consequently remanded today 24th June, 2024 till 9th July, 2024 joins MPs Mawanda Michael Maranga of Igara East Constituency, Wamakuyu Ignatuis Mudimi of Elgon County, Akamba Paul of Busiki County and Lawyer Kirya Julius of Kirya Company Advocates who were remanded last week.
The accused conspired with his co-accused who were earlier remanded, to divert over UGX3.4B meant for war loss compensation by government to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society for their personal use.
How Remanded MPs, Lawyer, Principal Cooperative Officer Chewed Cooperatives Shs3.4B
Five accused persons who include three Members of Parliament, have been charged at the Anti-Corruption Court in a major corruption scandal involving the diversion of public resources in Uganda.
The MPs charged include Hon. Mawanda Michael Maranga, Hon. Wamakuyu Ignatius Mudimi and Hon. Akamba Paul. Other persons charged are Kirya Julius Taitankoko a Law advocate and Kavundira Leonard the Principal Cooperative Officer in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
The accused persons are charged with misappropriating funds intended for war loss compensation to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited for their own personal benefit.
The charge sheet filed in court indicates that Hon. Mawanda Michael Maranga, allegedly converted public funds amounting to UGX 1,050,000,000= in October 2021 for purposes unrelated to that for which the resources were intended, to wit; war loss compensation by the Government of Uganda to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited for his own benefit.
On the other hand, Hon. Wamakuyu Ignatius Mudimi, allegedly converted public funds amounting to UGX 2,398,714,611= between the months of October 2021 and June 2023 for purposes unrelated to that for which the resources were intended, to wit; war loss compensation by the Government of Uganda to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited for his own benefit.
And Hon. Akamba Paul, allegedly converted public funds amounting to UGX 200,000,000/= between the months of May 2023 and June 2023 for purposes unrelated to that for which the resources were intended, to wit; war loss compensation by the Government of Uganda to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited for his own benefit.
Kirya Julius Taitankoko, a Law advocate is also charged with transferring public funds amounting to 2,228,714,611= for purposes unrelated to that for which the resources were intended, to wit; war loss compensation by the Government of Uganda to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited for his own benefit. All the captioned persons are however jointly charged on a separate count of offence with Kavundira Leonard for conspiring to defraud the Government of Uganda between 2019 and 2023 of 3,448,714,611= which was intended for the war loss compensation to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited.
