Brig. Tumukunde, Lakara charged
By Frank Nyakairu, Emmanuel N. Mugarura & Jennifer Nakalemar
Jan 16, 2004

Their travel is restrictedKAMPALA - Brigadiers Henry Tumukunde and Lakara Nakibus were yesterday charged with several counts before the court martial.Tumukunde was charged with causing financial loss worth Shs 120 million, disobedience, abuse of office and neglect of duty.Tumukunde is the former director general of the Internal Security Organisation. The prosecution, led by a private Kampala lawyer, Mr John Katende, alleges that between November 2000 and November 2001, Tumukunde, while serving as commander of the 4 Division, diverted to his personal use Shs 120 million.

Prosecution further alleges that by diverting the money he also abused his office and caused financial loss to the State.It is also alleged that between August 1996 and August 1998 while serving as the UPDF chief of personnel and administration, Tumukunde failed to ascertain the [numerical] strength of the army. Tumukunde denied the charges before the chairman of the court martial, Lt. Gen. Elly Tumwine, in Makindye.He was represented by lawyers MacDusman Kabega, Oscar Kambona and Abdu Katuntu. Lakara, the former army chief of staff, is facing 10 counts.He was charged on two counts of obtaining goods by false pretence, one count of disobedience of lawful orders, three counts of abuse of office and three counts of causing financial loss worth Shs 460 million and one count of neglect of official duty.Prosecution alleges that between June 2002 and June 2003 Lakara transferred soldiers contrary to the commander-in-chiefâs orders.It is further alleged that Lakara inflated the [numerical] strength of the UPDF 1Division by 1,567 soldiers, causing financial loss of Shs 210 million in April 2002. Prosecution also alleges that he abused his office when he diverted Shs 50 million being a balance of salaries for soldiers at Nakasongola Army Reception Centre.Prosecution further contends that by diverting the said money he caused financial loss to the State.On the counts of abuse of office and causing financial loss, Lakara is jointly charged with Maj. Julius Bakirana and Maj. Robert Nsabiyumva (the former director of finance at Bombo army headquarters).Lakara is also accused of causing another financial loss of more than Shs 200 million being a balance of salaries for soldiers at the Nakasongola Reception Centre.On the same count he is jointly charged with five other officers. They are Col. Stephen Othieno, the director of administration at Bombo; Nsabiyumva, Capt. Michael Baryaguma, Lt. Edward Musoke and WO Sam Turyamureeba.It is further alleged that between November 2001 and June 2003, Lakara, as army chief of staff, failed to ascertain and manage the strength of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces.He and his co-accused denied all the charges.The court also overruled a preliminary objection on Wednesday by Brig. Stephen Kashakaâs lawyers that the soldiers could not be charged under the Penal Court Act. The lawyers had argued that under the Constitution, soldiers are not public officers and cannot be charged under the said Act. Kashaka is a former chief personnel administrator. He is charged with three counts of obtaining goods by false pretence, abuse of office and disobeying lawful orders. Tumwine ruled that the Constitution could not have conspired to exonerate alleged corrupt officers. The nine officers applied for bail. Tough bail termsProsecution, which also includes Chief of Military Intelligence Col. Noble Mayombo and his former deputy Maj. James Mugira, asked court to grant the accused bail on condition that the officers:
* deposit all their firearms with the Military Police
* deposit their passports with court
* surrender all their escorts and get Military Police guards
* seek permission of the army chief of staff before moving outside Kampala.Tumwine ruled that the movement should not be beyond the borders of Uganda.

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Museveni  make a  chess move... ( for those  who play chess)!..Like a good chess player..you should have anticipated Moves Moves  ten steps ahead!

MK


All officers above the rank of colonel were granted bail of Shs 2 million cash while those at lieutenant colonel and below were bailed out at Shs 1 million cash. Court ordered them to deposit their weapons and passports today at 10 a.m. at the Makindye Military Police headquarters.


 2004 The Monitor Publications


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