NEWS– Godfrey Turyahikayo, the former head of Uganda’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA), recently found himself in a rather electrifying situation standing trial at the Anti-Corruption Court over the disappearance of a nearly Ugx 403 million from the government’s coffers.
Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opit took center stage, ready to conduct proceedings that promised to be more dramatic than a high-voltage power surge.
Turyahikayo wasn’t alone in the spotlight, joining him were a cast of characters straight out of a white-collar crime thriller: principal account Geoffrey Kasozi, internal auditor Annette Alitusubira, senior accountant Diana Balihikya, and assistant accountant Claire Kyomuhendo.
The allegations, as shocking as a live wire, date back to a period between June 14 and 16, 2016, when the accused allegedly engaged in some creative accounting maneuvers. They stand accused of siphoning off government funds to individual REA staff bank accounts under the guise of compensating those affected by power lines. But as it turns out, the only ones feeling the shock were the taxpayers.
According to the prosecution, this wasn’t just a case of a few loose wires; it was a calculated scheme to short circuit the government’s finances. The accused, they claim, were fully aware that their actions would plunge the government into darkness financially.
And what charges are they facing, you might ask? Well, prepare to be shocked yet again. The accused are staring down the barrel of charges that carry a maximum sentence of 14 years in the slammer – causing financial loss and embezzlement, offences that could make even the most hardened criminals tremble in their boots.
These charges didn’t just materialize out of thin air – they were carefully crafted by the diligent men and women of the Police force and given the nod of approval by none other than the Director of Public Prosecutions, Jane Frances Abodo.
It seems that when it comes to rooting out corruption, they’re not afraid to flip the switch and shed some light on the darkest corners of government mismanagement.
Before the court could adjourn the case, Turyahikayo and Kasozi applied for bail through their lawyers Allan Tumwesigye and Denis Kyewalabye.
They were granted Ugx 8M cash bail each and each of their sureties required to to execute a Ugx 100M non cash bail each.
Although the prosecution had opposed the bail application on ground that the sureties weren’t substantial, Magistrate Opit stated that his court was convinced that the sureties provided were substantial enough to compel the accused to attend trial.
The sureties included Turyahikayo’s wife who’s the former Rubabo County Legislator Kebirungi Mary Paula Turyahikayo, former Ntungamo district woman legislator Beatrice Rwakimari, UBC Managing Director Winston David Agaba, URA staffer Zuberi Mukota and UNBS staff Aziz Mukota.
Magistrate Opit thereafter adjourned the case to March 25, 2024 when they will reappear for mention.
