The Grade One Magistrate at Buganda Road Court, Ms Doreen Olga Karungi has directed that four top officials in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) face Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo over corruption related cases.
The officials include permanent secretary Christine Guwatudde, undersecretary and accounting officer Joel Wanjala, commissioner disaster preparedness and head of the Covid-19 taskforce Martin Owor, and Fred Lutimba, the assistant commissioner in-charge of procurement.
They are accused of fraudulent practices in connection with the procurement of relief food to people affected by COVID-19 lockdown.
The magistrate further added that the suspects will take plea on accusations of abuse of office, fraudulent false accounting and corruption in connection with the alleged procurement of food relief to people affected by the lockdown resulting from coronavirus.
“There is a specialised court to handle these matters. So this case file is hereby transferred to the Anti-Corruption Court,” she said.
These officials had earlier been granted bail by the same court having been arrested, charged and sent to Kitalya Prison on Mityana Road.
While extending their bail to July 23, the Magistrate asked the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to disclose to the accused persons, all the necessary evidences they intend to rely on during trial.
Guwatudde and her clique are suspected to have fraudulently inflated prices for COVID-19 food meant for the vulnerable Ugandans affected by the lockdown.
(Daily Monitor)
