The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court on August 02, 2017 heard a testimony from a witness in the USA via video Link.
Audio- Visual Link refers to giving or receiving of evidence through electronic means without a person being physically present in court. Hon. Justice Lawrence Gidudu, the Head of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court heard the testimony of Mr Thomas S. Elmore, an American, in the case against former Works Minister, Hon Abraham Byandala and six others, accused of defrauding government of Shs 24.7b.
The money was meant for the upgrade of Mukono-Kyetume-Katosi-Nyenga road from gravel to bitumen standard.
The witness testified through audio-video link against Hon. Byandala together with former UNRA officials Mr Berunado Kimeze Ssebbugga, 54, Mr Joe Ssemugooma, 54, Mr Wilberforce Senjako, city businessman Mr Apollo Senkeeto, 45, and Mr Isaac Mugote, a former Housing Finance Bank official. This came after Mr Elmore failed to travel to Uganda to testify against the accused.
Ms Brenda Kimbugwe Mawanda, the head of the Prosecution Unit at the Inspectorate of Government, said prior to the court session, prosecution had verified the audibility and visibility of the equipment as required by the law.
In August 2016, Chief Justice Bart Katureebe launched the audio-video link technology at High Court in Kampala to help victims of sexual violence, children, whistle-blowers and other types of witnesses who would like to protect their identity, or are unable to physically appear in court, to offer their testimony.
According to the charge sheet, Hon. Byandala is alleged to have influenced the procurement process that led to the award of tender to Eutaw.
Prosecution alleges that Senkeeto uttered a false KCB bank bid guarantee for sh1.9b in support of a bid for procurement of the road upgrade. Mr Senkeeto allegedly obtained execution of performance bond of sh16.5b from insurance company of East Africa and UAP by misrepresenting to them that it was guaranteeing a pending payment for the road.
