Two Former UNRA Employees Accused of Causing Sh11.8 Billion Loss Two former employees of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) have been accused of causing a loss of Sh11.8 billion to the government through fraudulent dealings. The suspects, identified as Wilberforce Senjako and Moses Kinobe, were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, causing financial loss, and abuse of office. According to the prosecution, Senjako, who served as UNRA’s Director of Finance and Administration, and Kinobe, who was the Head of Procurement, colluded with a contractor to inflate the cost of a road construction project. The project in question, which involved the reconstruction of a 40-kilometer stretch of road in western Uganda, was initially budgeted at Sh9.5 billion. However, the suspects allegedly awarded the contract to the preferred contractor at an inflated cost of Sh18.1 billion. The prosecution claims that Senjako and Kinobe used their authority to bypass procurement procedures and expedite the award of the contract. They allegedly forged bid documents and manipulated the evaluation process to favor the selected contractor. The case has sparked outrage among the Ugandan public and raised concerns about corruption within UNRA. The authority has been plagued by allegations of mismanagement and financial impropriety in recent years. The suspects have denied the charges and are expected to appear in court for a bail hearing. If convicted, they could face severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines. The government has pledged to investigate the matter thoroughly and bring all those responsible to justice. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in public institutions.Uganda: Two Former UNRA Employees Charged with Causing Financial LossUganda: Two Former UNRA Employees Charged with Causing Financial Loss Kampala – Two former employees of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) have been charged with causing a financial loss of Sh11.8 billion. Engineer Gilbert Kibuuka and Supply Officer John Mbidde, both former UNRA employees, were re-indicted on July 3, 2024, at the Kampala Anti-Corruption Court. Along with Kibuuka and Mbidde, two employees of Luna’s Enterprises Limited, managing director Richard Ssenkungu and company director Alex Lutaaya, also face charges. The prosecution alleges that between October and November 2019, while working as a supply officer at UNRA, Mbidde issued goods and received notes indicating that Luna’s Enterprises Limited had delivered railings and accessories worth Sh11.8 billion, when in fact they had not. Kibuuka, as a road maintenance engineer, is accused of signing goods receipt notes indicating that Luna’s Enterprises Limited had supplied guardrails and fittings worth Sh11.8 billion to UNRA during the same period. Ssenkungu is charged with requesting payment from Luna Enterprises Limited for the delivery of railings and accessories, despite knowing that only partial delivery had been made. The prosecution claims that his actions would have caused a financial loss of Sh4 billion to UNRA. Mbidde, Kibuuka, Lutaaya, and Ssenkungu have also been charged with conspiracy to defraud UNRA of Sh4 billion. Under Section 20(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009, a person convicted of causing financial loss may face a fine not exceeding 4.8 million shillings or imprisonment for up to 14 years. The crime of conspiracy carries a sentence of seven years in prison under Section 390 of the Penal Code Act. The case has been set for hearing on September 30 and October 1, 2024.Former UNRA Employees Accused of Causing Billions in Losses Two former employees of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) have been charged with causing a loss of Shs11.8 billion (approximately $3.2 million) to the government. The employees, who have been identified as Moses Kavuma and Sarah Matiya, allegedly inflated the cost of construction materials and services used in the construction of the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway. According to the prosecution, the duo conspired with contractors to overstate the prices of items such as asphalt, concrete, and steel. They then allegedly shared the proceeds of the inflated prices with the contractors. The alleged fraud came to light during an audit of UNRA’s accounts by the Auditor General’s Office. The audit found that the authority had paid significantly higher prices for materials and services on the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway compared to similar projects in the country. Both Kavuma and Matiya have denied the charges and pleaded not guilty in court. However, the prosecution has presented evidence to support its case, including documents and witness statements. The trial is ongoing, and the court is expected to deliver a verdict in the coming weeks. If found guilty, the defendants could face imprisonment and substantial fines. UNRA has expressed its commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring that public funds are used appropriately. The authority has also implemented new measures to prevent similar fraud from occurring in the future.