Nine officials from the Ministry of Finance have been charged with 11 counts, including money laundering, electronic fraud, causing financial loss, abuse of office, and corruption, over the Shs60 billion central bank heist.
The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala remanded the officials after their arrest on Tuesday, marking a dramatic turn in a case that had initially drawn little action from authorities despite the Bank of Uganda acknowledging the fraud.
Eight of the accused, including Accountant General Lawrence Ssemakula, appeared before Chief Magistrate Racheal Nakyazze on Thursday.
The prosecution told the court that Ssemakula, along with Paul Lumala, Jennifer Muhulizi, Mubarak Nsamba, Mark Kasuku, Tony Yawe, Deborah Kusiima, Betinah Nayebare, and Judith Ashaba, diverted funds meant for debt repayments to the World Bank and African Development Fund into accounts in the UK and Japan.
Court documents show that a $6.134 million debt servicing repayment to the World Bank was instead sent to Road Way Company in Japan, with the money landing in an account at MFUFG Bank on November 12.
Similarly, $8.569 million intended for the African Development Bank was paid to NJS International in London on September 28.
Prosecutors sought a criminal summons for Pedison Twesigomwe, the third accused, arguing he had deliberately evaded appearing before court.
The state also alleged that Ssemakula and Muhulizi neglected their duty to safeguard public funds, while Yawe manipulated the system to divert $6 million meant for the African Development Bank.
Other suspects, including Twesigomwe, Kusiima, and Nkalubo, were accused of concealing the fraudulent payment to Road Way, an act that the prosecution said amounted to corruption and money laundering.
Investigators have yet to conclude their inquiries, prompting the prosecution to seek an adjournment.
Meanwhile, the defence team, led by lawyers Peter Kabatsi and Bruce Musinguzi, protested that they had not been provided with a summary of charges before plea-taking and requested bail for their clients.
However, Magistrate Nakyazze ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction over money laundering charges, which are capital offences tried by the High Court.
The defence questioned why suspects not charged with money laundering could not take plea, but the prosecution maintained that the highest jurisdiction offence took precedence.
In the end, Ms Nakyazze remanded all the accused until February 18, when the case will return for mention.
