KAMPALA- The Inspector General of Government (IGG) has filed a notice of appeal against the decision of the High Court that acquitted the former works and Transport Minister Eng. Abraham Byandala and 3 others of the Mukono -Katosi road scam.
In the same notice, the IGG is also appealing against the sentences handed down to the convicted suspects; Apollo Senkeeto , Joe Ssemugooma and Wilberforce Senjako of 10 and 5 years imprisonment terms respectively which she describes as too lenient to meet the ends of justice.
According to the notice filed before the Court of Appeal, the IGG intends to appeal against the judgment.
“Take notice that the IGG on behalf of the state, being partially dissatisfied with the judgment of His Lordship Lawrence Gidudud sitting at Kololo High Court Anti-Corruption Division, delivered on August 29, 2018 whereby he acquitted Eng. Abraham James Byandala, Eng Berunado Kimeze Ssebuga, Marvin Baryaruha and Isaac Mugote on all counts and convicted Joe Ssemugooma and Wilberforce Ssenjako for neglect of duty, Apollo Senkeeto for theft and uttering false documents, intends to appeal to court of Appeal of Uganda against the acquittal and sentence,” reads in part the notice of appeal.
The notice further indicates that the appellant (IGG) wishes to peruse the proceedings and judgment of the trial court before filing the memorandum of appeal and thereby applies for the same.
On Monday this week , Ssenkeeto and Ssemugooma asked the court of Appeal to also quash their conviction and respective sentences on charges of Abuse of office and theft of Shs24. 7 billion that was meant to up-grade the Mukono-Katosi- Nyenga road saying their conviction was unfair .
On August 29 2018, Justice Gidudu ruled that Byandala as a works and Transport minister was driven by political and good will motives rather than criminal and fraud ones to sign the contract with a fake EUTAU construction company to upgrade the said road because it had become politically sensitive and known for sparking off riots due to delays in its construction.
