Former Works minister Abraham Byandala has been acquitted of all charges of causing financial loss of Shs24.7 billion in the botched Mukono-Katosi road contract.
Byandala, also Katikamu South MP was cleared of the charges on Wednesday morning by Justice Lawrence Gidudu of the Anti-Corruption Court at Kololo, in Kampala.
Justice Gidudu acquitted Byandala on count one of directing the signing the contract for the botched Mukono-Katosi road project. He ruled that there was no evidence to pin Byandala. Former UNRA executive director Eng. Kimeze has also been cleared on abuse of office.
Byandala is jointly charged with businessman Apolo Senkeeto, alias Mark Kalyesubula, who was the country representative of Eutaw Construction Company. The company was accused of fleecing Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) of Shs24.7b. Byandala was accused of conniving with UNRA officials to steal about 24billion shillings meant for the upgrade of Mukono-Katosi Nyenga road. Other suspects are former Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) acting executive director Berunado Sebugga Kimeze, former UNRA director of finance and administration Joe Ssemugooma, former UNRA regional accountant Wilberforce Senjako and Isaac Mugote (former staff of Housing Finance Bank).
